The Basics of Reproduction: A Refresher Course

This lecture briefly describes the features of sexual reproduction, means of genetic recombination in prokaryotes, flowering patterns in plants and breeding patterns in animals. You will be able to:

1. Define amphimixis;

2. Elaborate the three means of genetic recombination in prokaryotes viz. Conjugation, Transformation and    Transduction;

3. Describe flowering patterns and give examples of annuals, biennials and perennial plants;

4. Distinguish between seasonal and continuous breeders; and

5. Give some examples of plants showing unusual flowering pattern.

The lecture equips you with many new terminologies pertaining to the subject of Reproductive Biology. You will be able to:

1. Differentiate between the two types of reproductive cycles in placental mammals;

2. Identify the factors which are responsible for the development of an individual organism;

3. Categorize the reproductive phase in organisms into three crucial events viz. pre-fertilization, fertilization, and post-fertilization.

4. Explain the meaning of haploid and diploid cells.

5. List the number of chromosomes in meiocytes and gametes of several organisms.

6. Describe the alternation of generation.

7. Enumerate the variations in gamete production in different organisms with reference to Isogamy, Anisogamy and Oogamy.

8. Describe the terms like homothallic/heterothallic, monoecious/dioecious, unisexual/bisexual.

The lecture describes the basic concepts for a better understanding of the processes to be learnt in succeeding sections.

You will be able to -

1. Describe sexuality in animals viz. unisexual and bisexual/hermaphrodites with examples.

2. Explain the three ways by which gamete transfer takes place in various organisms.

3. Elaborate the advantages of cross-pollination in plants.

his lecture briefly describes the fertilization and post-fertilization events. After going through this lecture, you will be able to -

1. Define fertilization and explain it's two types;

2. Describe parthenogenesis and explain the two ways by which parthenogenesis takes place;

3. Explain meaning of arrhenotoky, thelytoky and deuterotoky;

4. Enlist the processes which take place after fertilization viz. zygote formation and embryogenesis;

5. Identify animals which are oviparous, viviparous and ovaviviparous; and

6. Enumerate the post-fertilization events in flowering plants.

At the end, this lecture summarizes the basic concepts and terms learnt in section-1 and 2