AQA GCSE Biology Foundation (8461), Foundation tier · Inheritance, variation and evolution › Reproduction
Practise Sexual and asexual reproduction. 7 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
How sexual reproduction (two parents, fusion of gametes, variation) differs from asexual reproduction (one parent, no gametes, clones). It is usually tested with short recall questions, 'compare' questions and 'explain why the offspring are identical' questions.
Key facts
Gamete = sex cell with half the normal number of chromosomes
Animal gametes: sperm and egg. Flowering plant gametes: pollen and egg
Sexual reproduction = fusion of male and female gametes → mixing of genetic information → variation
Asexual reproduction = one parent, no gametes, no mixing → clones
Meiosis makes gametes; asexual reproduction involves only mitosis
Clone = genetically identical offspring
Notes
Sexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction involves the joining (fusion) of a male gamete and a female gamete.
In animals the gametes are sperm and egg cells. In flowering plants they are pollen and egg cells.
Gametes are made by meiosis, so each gamete has half the normal number of chromosomes.
Genetic information from the two parents is mixed, so the offspring show variation: they are genetically different from each other and from their parents.
Asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction involves only one parent.
There is no fusion of gametes and no mixing of genetic information.
Only mitosis is involved, so the offspring are genetically identical to the parent and to each other. Genetically identical offspring are called clones.
Examples: strawberry plants growing new plants on runners, and daffodils forming new bulbs.
Side by side
diagram
Parents: sexual needs two; asexual needs one.
Gametes: sexual uses gametes made by meiosis; asexual uses no gametes.
Cell division: sexual involves meiosis (to make gametes); asexual involves only mitosis.
Offspring: sexual gives genetically different offspring (variation); asexual gives genetically identical offspring (clones).
Coloured dots stand for genetic information: mixed in sexual reproduction, copied exactly in asexual reproduction.
How to answer each type of question
Recall: name the gametes or the type of cell division
1 mark eachGrade 3
Learn the pairs: sperm and egg (animals), pollen and egg (flowering plants).
Meiosis makes gametes; mitosis is the only cell division in asexual reproduction.
Example. (a) Name the male gamete in a flowering plant. (b) Name the type of cell division involved in asexual reproduction.
Show the model answerHide the model answer
(a) Pollen (1) (b) Mitosis (1)
Compare sexual and asexual reproduction
3 to 4 marksGrade 5
Make every point a comparison: 'sexual ... whereas asexual ...'.
Cover the number of parents, gametes, mixing of genetic information and whether the offspring vary.
Use the key words fusion, gametes, variation and clones.
Example. Compare sexual reproduction with asexual reproduction. [4 marks]
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Sexual reproduction needs two parents, whereas asexual reproduction needs only one (1). Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes, but asexual reproduction involves no gametes (1). In sexual reproduction genetic information from two parents is mixed, but in asexual reproduction there is no mixing (1). So sexual reproduction produces variation in the offspring, whereas asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring (clones) (1). Also allow: sexual involves meiosis, whereas asexual involves only mitosis.
Don’t lose marks
Saying asexual reproduction uses meiosis. It involves only mitosis.
Writing 'the genes are mixed' without saying that the genetic information comes from two parents.
Saying pollen is the female gamete. Pollen is male; the egg cell is female.
Calling asexual offspring 'similar' or 'the same'. Use 'genetically identical' or 'clones'.
More tips
Memory tricks
A for Asexual, A for 'A copy': one parent, no gametes, clones.
Count the parents: two parents always means gametes, fusion and variation.
Mitosis makes identical cells (growth, repair, asexual reproduction). Meiosis makes gametes.
Exam technique
In 'compare' questions, give both sides of every point (sexual ... whereas asexual ...). A one-sided statement often gets no credit.
Key words examiners look for: fusion, gametes, mixing of genetic information, variation, clones, mitosis, meiosis.
If the question describes an unfamiliar organism, look for clues: one parent and no gametes means asexual reproduction.
What each grade needs
What you need to be able to do, from the first marks up to the top grade.
Grade 3
Name the gametes in animals and plantsAnimals: sperm and egg cells. Flowering plants: pollen and egg cells.
Grade 3
State how many parents each type needsSexual reproduction needs two parents; asexual reproduction needs only one.
Grade 4
Define sexual reproductionThe joining (fusion) of a male gamete and a female gamete.
Grade 5
Name the cell division each type usesGametes are made by meiosis; asexual reproduction involves only mitosis.
Quick recall
Cover the answers and test yourself. The app has these as flashcards that come back just before you'd forget them.
Organisms can reproduce sexually or asexually. How many parents are involved in asexual reproduction?
One
Describe how the genetic information in the anemones produced by method 1 compares with the genetic information in the parent.
It is identical; they are clones of the parent
Complete the sentences. Sexual reproduction involves the joining (fusion) of male and female .......... . In sexual reproduction there is mixing of genetic information, which leads to .......... in the offspring.
gametes; variety (variation)
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy5 marks
Organisms can reproduce sexually or asexually.
(a) Which type of cell division is involved in asexual reproduction? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
Fertilisation
Meiosis
Mitosis
Pollination
(b) Which two are gametes in flowering plants? Tick (✓) two boxes.[2]
Egg cell
Pollen
Root hair cell
Seed
Xylem cell
(c) How many parents are involved in asexual reproduction?[1]
(d) Asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent. What name is given to genetically identical offspring?[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Mitosis
(b)Answer: Egg cell; Pollen
(c)Answer: One
one / 1
(d)Answer: Clones
clones
Question 2Medium6 marks
Sexual and asexual reproduction produce offspring in different ways.
(a) Give two differences between sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction.[2]
(b) Explain why offspring produced by sexual reproduction show variation.[2]
(c) Explain why offspring produced by asexual reproduction are genetically identical to their parent.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Sexual reproduction involves two parents and the fusion of gametes; asexual involves one parent and no gametes. Sexual reproduction mixes genetic information and gives variation; asexual produces clones
sexual involves two parents but asexual involves only one
sexual involves the fusion / joining of gametes but asexual does not
sexual produces variation / genetically different offspring but asexual produces clones
sexual involves meiosis (to make gametes) but asexual involves only mitosis
(b)Answer: Genetic information from two parents is mixed when gametes fuse, and the gametes are genetically different from each other
genetic information from two parents is mixed (when gametes fuse)
gametes (made by meiosis) are genetically different from each other
(c)Answer: There is only one parent and no fusion of gametes, so there is no mixing of genetic information; only mitosis is involved, which produces genetically identical cells
only one parent / no fusion of gametes / no mixing of genetic information
only mitosis is involved (which makes genetically identical cells)