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Cows have calves, cats have kittens. Living things make more of their own kind. If they stopped, life would slowly vanish. How do parents pass on their "recipe" to their young? Let us find out.
Why is reproduction important for life?
- If plants and animals did not reproduce, life would disappear.
- Reproduction makes sure each type of organism continues.
- So it keeps the continuity of life going.
Example:
Cows have calves and cats have kittens, so each kind continues, generation after generation.
What are genes and what do they do?
- Parents pass instructions to offspring on how to develop.
- These instructions are called genetic material or genes.
- They are stored inside every cell of a living being.
- So a calf grows into a cow, and a kitten into a cat.
Example:
Genes are like a detailed instruction manual inside each cell, telling it how to make bones, blood or skin.
How does reproduction help life adapt and change?
- Reproduction allows small changes in the passed-down instructions.
- Sometimes these changes help an organism survive better.
- Over many generations, changes can lead to new features.
- So life can adapt and continue in new forms.
Example:
Over time, camels developed humps to store fat and survive in deserts.
How are asexual and sexual reproduction different?
- In asexual reproduction, a single parent makes exact copies of itself.
- In sexual reproduction, instructions from two parents combine.
- So sexual offspring share traits with both but are not exactly alike.
- This mixing keeps useful features and allows new ones.
Asexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction
One parent
Two parents
Offspring are exact copies
Offspring are slightly different
No mixing of instructions
Instructions mix from both parents
Important Points
- Reproduction keeps each type of organism continuing.
- Genes are the instructions stored in every cell.
- There are two types — asexual and sexual reproduction.
ā Test Yourself
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Why is reproduction essential?
View Answer
It keeps each type of organism continuing, so life does not disappear. -
What are genes?
View Answer
The genetic material or instructions stored inside every cell. -
How did camels adapt to deserts?
View Answer
They developed humps to store fat over many generations. -
How many parents in asexual reproduction?
View Answer
Only one parent. -
Why are sexual offspring not exactly like parents?
View Answer
They get mixed instructions from two parents.
Important Definitions
- Reproduction — the process by which living beings produce more of their own kind.
- Genes (genetic material) — the instructions stored in every cell that guide how an organism develops.
š NCERT Question 4 — In sexual reproduction, why
In sexual reproduction, why are offspring different from their parents? (MCQ)
View Answer →
