Reproduction
Reproductive Success
Reproductive Success is determined through the offspring of an organism. If the offspring is able to reproduce, then reproductive success is evident. Organisms that reproduce do so either asexually or sexually. Asexual meaning one parent resulting in offspring that is genetically the same, or sexual meaning two parents resulting in offspring with genetic variation compared to the parents. Bacteria, single celled organisms and some insects can asexually reproduce. There are many ways in which asexual reproduction occurs. Vegetative propagation, binary fission, budding, and fragmentation. Vegetative propagation happens with plants, as their roots or leaves lengthen underneath the soil, using mitosis expanding the area the plant takes up. Binary Fission is the process of rapid cell division. Budding is when a part of an organism, or the parent cell branches off and becomes a whole new organism through mitosis. Fragmentation is when a piece of an organism detaches itself from the body, and grows into another organism, much like a starfish. Most animals or mammals reproduce sexually.
Common cuttlefish reproduce sexually and have achieved reproductive success. Most cuttlefish live to about two years. Their main purpose in life is to reproduce and carry on their genes.
During this process of reproduction, males use a modified tentacle to insert genes into the female's buccal area, which is where genetic material is formed until she is ready to fertilize her eggs [1]. They do this by a simple form of trickery. Their camouflage techniques are not only used for predators, but to fool females as well! These cephalopods morph their bodies to look like females, and when they are able to get close enough, they are able to inject their sperm inside the female. This gender-bending trick is mostly used by smaller cuttlefish, because when mating season occurs, many males must fight over a female in order to share their genetic information. It is very common that a large group of males hover around a female, each trying their best to get closest. This is such a typical occurrence that males are able to spray water through their mantle in order to wash out any other sperm that was placed in the buccal area of the female. When the female is prepared to lay eggs, she finds a safe spot, such as under rocks, or in empty marine shells. She can lay up to two hundred eggs in her lifetime. The female then uses her tentacle to deposit the spermatophores unto the eggs, fertilizing them, and carrying out reproductive success.
Common cuttlefish reproduce sexually and have achieved reproductive success. Most cuttlefish live to about two years. Their main purpose in life is to reproduce and carry on their genes.
During this process of reproduction, males use a modified tentacle to insert genes into the female's buccal area, which is where genetic material is formed until she is ready to fertilize her eggs [1]. They do this by a simple form of trickery. Their camouflage techniques are not only used for predators, but to fool females as well! These cephalopods morph their bodies to look like females, and when they are able to get close enough, they are able to inject their sperm inside the female. This gender-bending trick is mostly used by smaller cuttlefish, because when mating season occurs, many males must fight over a female in order to share their genetic information. It is very common that a large group of males hover around a female, each trying their best to get closest. This is such a typical occurrence that males are able to spray water through their mantle in order to wash out any other sperm that was placed in the buccal area of the female. When the female is prepared to lay eggs, she finds a safe spot, such as under rocks, or in empty marine shells. She can lay up to two hundred eggs in her lifetime. The female then uses her tentacle to deposit the spermatophores unto the eggs, fertilizing them, and carrying out reproductive success.
Female Reproductive System
Male Reproductive System
Mitosis & Meiosis
Mitosis
Mitosis is the process in which two daughter cells are formed from one parent asexually. It creates two offspring cells that are an exact genetic copy of the parent. The cells have a full set pf DNA, otherwise known as a diploid. This process is used to make skin cells, growing tissue, and other fibers in the body. There are four phases of mitosis that occur during the process. These are known as Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase. In all of these phases, a different process occurs allowing mitosis to complete its necessary functions. During Interphase, the cell is in its non dividing stage, while DNA replicates. This phase goes on for about ninety percent of the time mitosis undergoes. The other ten percent of time is used for the next four steps. The second step, Prophase occurs, and the nucleus of the cell begins to disappear. Chromosomes begin to appear, and spindle fibers begin to form from two centrioles. The next step, Metaphase, is when two chromosomes line up parallel to each other in the middle of the cell, as the spindle fibers attach themselves to the chromosomes. Anaphase is when the sister chromosomes begin to move apart and divide. This is caused by the pulling of the spindle fibers' resistance, pulling the lined up chromosomes apart. Cleavage begins to form between the single cell, dividing into two. Telophase is the last phase in which the two separate cells finally form as two individuals. Mitosis is then complete, and it most likely will reoccur causing a infinite series of mitosis processes.
Mitosis is the process in which two daughter cells are formed from one parent asexually. It creates two offspring cells that are an exact genetic copy of the parent. The cells have a full set pf DNA, otherwise known as a diploid. This process is used to make skin cells, growing tissue, and other fibers in the body. There are four phases of mitosis that occur during the process. These are known as Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase. In all of these phases, a different process occurs allowing mitosis to complete its necessary functions. During Interphase, the cell is in its non dividing stage, while DNA replicates. This phase goes on for about ninety percent of the time mitosis undergoes. The other ten percent of time is used for the next four steps. The second step, Prophase occurs, and the nucleus of the cell begins to disappear. Chromosomes begin to appear, and spindle fibers begin to form from two centrioles. The next step, Metaphase, is when two chromosomes line up parallel to each other in the middle of the cell, as the spindle fibers attach themselves to the chromosomes. Anaphase is when the sister chromosomes begin to move apart and divide. This is caused by the pulling of the spindle fibers' resistance, pulling the lined up chromosomes apart. Cleavage begins to form between the single cell, dividing into two. Telophase is the last phase in which the two separate cells finally form as two individuals. Mitosis is then complete, and it most likely will reoccur causing a infinite series of mitosis processes.
Mitosis Diagram
Meiosis
Meiosis is the process of which sex cells, or gametes are produced. This is not a type of reproduction, on account for the need of fertilization. Meiosis forms four cells that are genetically variable. They do not have a full set of chromosomes, but a half set, called a haploid. These cells are gametes, not needing the full set of chromosomes, so once two gametes of both parents are combined, their amount of chromosomes also combine, resulting in a diploid cell, a full set of chromosomes. Meiosis has two stages, Meiosis I and Meiosis II. Meiosis I is very similar to Mitosis, in which Prophase I involves the nucleus disappearing, Metaphase I involves the chromosomes lining up in the middle, and so on. Meiosis II is unlike the other phases. It follows a similar pattern but occurs after two daughter cells are made from Meiosis I. During Prophase II, both cells create spindle fibers and DNA is being separated. Metaphase II consists of the single chromosomes lining up in the middle of the cell, spindle fibers attached. Then Anaphase II occurs, and the sister chromatin begin to separate. Telophase II then divides both cells into another two cells, resulting in four genetically variable cells. This completes Meiosis and allows the gametes to now be used for reproduction.