FAHAHEEL AL-WATANIEH INDIAN PRIVATE SCHOOL

AHMADI-KUWAIT
BIOLOGY -- CLASS X

Chapter 8: How do Organisms Reproduce

1. Why is variation beneficial to the species but not necessarily for the individual?

Variations are beneficial to the species than individual because sometimes for a species, the
environmental conditions change so drastically that their survival becomes difficult. For example, if
the temperature of water increases suddenly, then most of the bacteria living in that water would die.
Only few variants that are resistant to heat would be able to survive. However, if these variants were
not there, then the entire species of bacteria would have been destroyed. Thus, these variants help in
the survival of the species. However, all variations are not necessarily beneficial for the individual
organisms.

2. Explain different modes of asexual reproduction with the help of neat labelled diagrams.
i. Fission
a. Binary Fission

Many bacteria and protozoa simply split in two equal halves during cell division.
A. In organisms such as amoeba, the splitting of the cell into two takes place along any plane.
B. Some unicellular organisms show more organization of their body design.
eg. Leishmania (a protozoan – kala azar)
It has a whip like structure at one end of the cell, Binary fission occurs in a definite orientation in
relation to this structure.
 b. Multiple Fission
Single celled organisms such as plasmodium (malarial parasite), divides into many daughter cells
simultaneously by multiple fission.

ii. Fragmentation:
In some multicellular organisms with simple body organization, the mode of reproduction is very
simple. The organism simply break-up into smaller pieces upon maturation. These pieces or fragments
grow into new individuals. Eg. Spirogyra.
iii. Regeneration:
It is carried out by specialized cells; these cells proliferate and make many cells. From this mass of
cells, different cells undergo changes to become various cell types and tissues. Simple animals like
hydra and Planaria, can be cut into any number of pieces and each piece grows into a complete
organism.

iv. Budding

A bud develops as an outgrowth due to repeated cell division at one specific site. These buds develop
into tiny individuals and when fully matured, detach from the parent body and become new
independent individual. Eg. Hydra.
 In yeast, the small buds may or may not separate from the parent cell.

v.Vegetative propagation or Vegetative reproduction.

Vegetative parts like roots, stem, leaves develop into new plants under appropriate conditions.
 Eg. Potatoes have notches (buds) on their surface if these notches are cut and placed in
appropriate conditions they give rise to new plants.
 Buds produced in the leaf of bryophyllum fall on ground and give rise to a new plant.
 vi. Spore formation

 Hyphae- Thread like structures that develop on the bread. They are not reproductive parts.
 Sporangia- Tiny blob-on-a-stick structures which are involved in reproduction. Thy contain
cells/ spores.
 Spores- Spores are covered by thick walls that protect them until they are in favorable
conditions. Spores give rise to new Rhizopus individuals.

3. How will an organism be benefited if it reproduces through spores?

There are many advantages, if an organism reproduces through spores.
i)Large numbers of spores are produced in one sporangium.
ii) Spores are distributed easily by air to far-off places to avoid competition at one place.
iii)Spores are covered by thick walls to prevent dehydration under unfavorable conditions.

4. What are the advantages of vegetative propagation?

 Plants raised by vegetative propagation can bear flowers and fruits earlier than those produced
from seeds.
 Such methods also make possible the propagation in plants such as banana, orange, rose,
jasmine that have lost the capacity to produce seed.
 All plants produced by vegetative propagation are genetically similar enough to the parent
plant to have all the characteristics eg. as seen in grafting and layering.
 Vegetative propagation is also used for agricultural purposes in the commercial production of
some plants eg, grapes, sugarcane, rose
5. How does binary fission differ from multiple fission?
Binary Fission Multiple Fission
A single cell divides into two equal A single cell divides into many daughter cells
halves. simultaneously.
Occurs during favourable condition. Occurs during unfavourable condition.
Eg. Amoeba and Bacteria Eg. Plasmodium.

6. Can you think of reasons why more complex organisms cannot give rise to new individuals
through regeneration?

Simple organisms such as Hydra and Planaria can produce new individuals through the process of
regeneration. The process of regeneration involves the formation of new organisms from its body
parts. Simple organisms can utilize this method of reproduction as their entire body is made of
similar kind of cells in which any part of their body can be formed by growth and development.
However, complex organisms have organ-system level of organization. All the organ systems of
their body work together as an interconnected unit. They can regenerate their lost body parts such as
skin, muscles, blood, etc. However, they cannot give rise to new individuals through regeneration.
.
7. Why is DNA copying an essential part of the process of reproduction?
OR
What is the importance of DNA copying in reproduction?

 DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) copying is an essential part of reproduction as it passes genetic

information from parents to offspring.
 The DNA is the information site for making proteins and each specific type of protein leads to
a specific type of body design.
 The copying of DNA always takes place along with the creation of additional cellular
structure. This process is then followed by division of a cell to form two cells.

8. Draw L.S of a bisexual flower and label the parts.

 9. What are the different parts of a flower? Describe in brief the male and female reproductive
parts of a flower.
The different parts of a flower are sepals, petals, stamens and carpels.
a. Stamens and Carpel (pistil) are the reproductive parts of a flower which contain the germ cells.
b.Stamen is the male reproductive part. It is made of anther and filament. It produces pollen grains
which produce the male germ cell. (Male gamete).
c. Carpel is the female reproductive part, which is made up of stigma, style and ovary. The Ovary
contains Ovules and each Ovule has an egg shell.

10. With the help of a neat labelled diagram explain the events which occur after pollination.
After pollination a tube grows out of the pollen grain towards ovary through the stigma. Through this
pollen tube, male germ cell reaches the female germ cell and the germ cells fuse (fertilization) to
produce zygote.

11. Mention the important post fertilization changes in flowers.

 Zygote divides several times and develop into an embryo within the ovule.
 The ovules develop a tough coat and is converted into a seed. The seed protects the embryo and
stores food for its germination.
 The ovary grows rapidly and ripens to form a fruit which protects the seed.
 Petals, sepals, stigma, style and stamens dry and fall off.
 Under appropriate conditions, the seed which contains the embryo develops into a seedling. This
process is called germination.
12. Differentiate between.
a) Unisexual flower and Bisexual flower.
Unisexual flower Bisexual flower
Flower contains either stamen or carpel. Flower contains both stamens and carpels.
Eg. Papaya, water melon. Eg. Hibiscus, mustard

b) Self-pollination and Cross pollination.

Self-pollination Cross pollination
Transfer of pollen occurs in the same flower Pollen is transferred from one flower to
or another flower in the same plant. another flower in different plants.

13. How is the process of pollination different from fertilization?

Pollination Fertilization
Pollination is the process of transfer of pollens Fertilization is the fusion of the male
from anther to stigma. and female gametes.
It occurs with the help of certain pollinating Agents are absent.
agents such as air, water, birds, or some insects.
It occurs only in plants. Occurs in plants and animals.

14. What is the role of the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland?

 The secretion from seminal vesicles and prostate glands provide a fluid medium for easy transport of
sperms.
 The secretion from seminal vesicles provide nutrients.
 The secretion of Prostate gland provides an alkaline medium.
15. How does the embryo get nourishment inside the mother’s body?

The embryo develops inside the mother’s body for about nine months. Inside the uterus’ embryo gets
nutrition from mother’s blood through a disc- like tissue called placenta. Placenta contains finger-like
projections called villi on the embryo’s side and blood spaces which surround the villi on the mother’s
side. They provide a large surface area for exchange of oxygen and nutrients from mother to embryo. The
waste materials produced by the embryo are transferred to the mother’s blood through the placenta.

16. Why does menstruation occur?

On reaching puberty each ovary alternatively releases one egg every month. The uterus also prepares itself
by making its lining thick and spongy to receive the fertilized ovum. If the ovum is not fertilized, then the
lining of blood vessels in the uterus slowly breaks and goes out of the body through vagina as blood and
mucous. This cycle takes place roughly once in every month and is known as menstruation. The first
menstruation on the onset is known as menarche. A woman will have her last menstruation by the age of
45 - 50 and it is known as menopause.

17. What are the different methods of contraception?

The contraceptive methods can be broadly divided into the following types:

Barrier method → In this method, the fertilization of ovum and sperm is prevented with the help of
barriers. Barriers are available for both males and females. Condoms are barriers made of thin rubber that
are used to cover penis in males and vagina in females.

Oral contraceptives →In this method, tablets or drugs are taken orally. These contain small doses of
hormones that prevent the release of eggs and thus fertilization cannot occur.

IUCD (Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices) - Contraceptive devices such as the loop or Copper-T are
placed in uterus to prevent pregnancy.

Surgical methods → Some surgical methods can also be used to block the gamete transfer. It includes the
blocking of vas deferens to prevent the transfer of sperms known as vasectomy. Similarly, fallopian tubes of
the female can be blocked surgically so that the egg will not reach the uterus known as tubectomy.
18. Draw and label human male and female reproductive system.

Seminal vesicle

ureter
Urinary bladder

Prostate gland

Penis

Urethra
Vas deferens

Testis
Scrotum

Male reproductive system

Fallopian tube

Ovary

Uterus

Cervix

Vagina

Female reproductive system

19. If a woman is using a copper−T, will it help in protecting her from sexually transmitted diseases?

No. Using a copper-T will not provide a protection from sexually transmitted diseases, as it does not
prevent the entry of semen. It only prevents the implantation of the embryo in the uterus.

20. What are the advantages of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction?

Advantages of sexual reproduction:

i) The new formed individual has characteristics of both the parents. This promotes diversity of
characters in offsprings.
ii) As more variations are produced in sexual reproduction, it can ensure survival of species in a niche.
iii) Variations plays a prominent role in the origin of new species.

21. What are the functions performed by the testis and testosterone in human beings?
The testes are the male reproductive organs that are located outside the abdominal cavity within a pouch
called scrotum.
Testosterone is a hormone secreted by testis.
Functions of testes:
i)Produce sperms
ii)Produce a hormone called testosterone.
Functions of testosterone:
i) Stimulates testes to produce sperm.
ii) Testosterone brings about secondary sexual characters in boys during puberty.

22. How are the modes for reproduction different in unicellular and multicellular organisms?

In unicellular organisms, reproduction occurs by the division of the entire cell. The modes of
reproduction in unicellular organisms can be fission, budding, etc. whereas in multicellular organisms,
specialised reproductive organs are present. Therefore, they can reproduce by complex reproductive
methods such as vegetative propagation, spore formation, etc. In more complex multicellular organisms
such as human beings and plants, the mode of reproduction is sexual reproduction.

23. How does reproduction help in providing stability to populations of species?

 Rate of birth must be on par with the rate of death to provide stability to population of species.
This is only possible through reproduction.
 Reproduction involves DNA copying which is the source of information for making proteins
there by controlling the body design.
 Variations may help the survival of species overtime.

24. What could be the reasons for adopting contraceptive methods?

Contraceptive methods are mainly adopted because of the following reasons:

(i) To prevent unwanted pregnancies.
(ii) To control population rise or birth rate.
(iii) To prevent the transfer of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).