Mitosis makes clones
Asexual reproduction and mitosis.
Yeast in warm water
Yeast is a tiny single-celled organism that reproduces asexually. In favourable conditions, the number of yeast cells rises quickly.
What do you think is the quickest way for such organisms to increase in number?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Asexual reproduction relies on mitosis, which gives two daughter cells with chromosomes identical to the parent cell's, so offspring are genetically identical clones; it is fast and quickly increases population in favourable conditions.
Yeast in warm water
Yeast is a tiny single-celled organism that reproduces asexually. In favourable conditions, the number of yeast cells rises quickly.
What do you think is the quickest way for such organisms to increase in number?
- Each cell divides into two identical cells
- Two different cells join to make one
- Cells appear from the water
One cell divides
Press Next step to see what mitosis does to the chromosomes.
Identical copies
Mitosis gave two daughter cells with the same chromosomes as the parent cell. So the offspring match the parent. This is the central process behind asexual reproduction.
Asexual reproduction relies on mitosis, which gives two daughter cells with chromosomes identical to the parent cell's. The offspring are genetically identical clones. It is fast and quickly increases a population in favourable conditions.
Notes
Mitosis gives two identical daughter cells, so asexual offspring are clones. It is fast in favourable conditions.
Check yourself
In the picture, the parent cell had 4 chromosomes. How many chromosomes does each daughter cell have after mitosis?
Answer: 4
Each daughter cell has the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell, so 4.
Offspring that are genetically identical to the parent are called…
How many daughter cells does mitosis give?
When does asexual reproduction quickly increase a population?
- clones — correct. Yes!
- gametes. Gametes are the reproductive cells formed by meiosis in sexual reproduction.
- spores. Spores are formed by moulds. Genetically identical offspring are called clones.
- Four. Mitosis gives two daughter cells.
- Two — correct. Yes!
- One. Mitosis divides one cell into two daughter cells.
- When conditions are not favourable at all. The method is fast and increases the population quickly especially when environmental conditions are favourable.
- Only when two parents are present. Asexual reproduction needs one parent, not two.
- When environmental conditions are favourable — correct. Yes!