Asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction is when a living thing makes a baby without needing a partner. It's like making a copy of yourself!
Just like when you draw a picture and then make a photocopy, a living thing can make a copy of itself by splitting in two, like a puzzle! This is called binary fission.
Other times, a living thing can grow a new baby from a part of itself. For example, some plants can grow new roots, stems, or leaves from a piece of the parent plant. This is called vegetative propagation.
Asexual reproduction doesn't need any special cells like sperm or eggs, but it also means that the baby will be exactly the same as the parent. So, if the parent has a characteristic or a trait that is not good, the baby will also have that same problem.
But, asexual reproduction can allow living things to make lots of babies quickly and easily, without needing to find a partner. Some animals, like sea stars, can even regrow their body parts and make new animals!
Just like when you draw a picture and then make a photocopy, a living thing can make a copy of itself by splitting in two, like a puzzle! This is called binary fission.
Other times, a living thing can grow a new baby from a part of itself. For example, some plants can grow new roots, stems, or leaves from a piece of the parent plant. This is called vegetative propagation.
Asexual reproduction doesn't need any special cells like sperm or eggs, but it also means that the baby will be exactly the same as the parent. So, if the parent has a characteristic or a trait that is not good, the baby will also have that same problem.
But, asexual reproduction can allow living things to make lots of babies quickly and easily, without needing to find a partner. Some animals, like sea stars, can even regrow their body parts and make new animals!
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