What is reproduction, types and benefits of reproduction

WHAT IS REPRODUCTION
Meaning: Reproduction can be defined as the ability of living organism to give rise or birth to new individuals or young ones of the Same species. 

TYPES OF REPRODUCTION
There are two basic types of reproduction these are asexual and sexual reproduction.  Below are some piece of information regarding the types of reproduction.

1. ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION:
Asexual reproduction is the type of  reproduction in which new organisms are produce from a single parent without the union of gametes. Each individual offspring is the same thing in all aspects. Likewise their parent.
The offsprings are known as clone.

TYPES OF ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION
There are different types of asexual Reproduction, among which are listed below;
_Binary fission
_Budding
_Sporulation
_Fragmentation
_Schizogomy
_Parthenogenesis
_Spore formation
_Vegetative  reproduction

[a.] Binary fission : Binary fission is a form of asexual Reproduction which is commonly found in unicellular organism,  in which a single cell divides into two equal parts by mitosis to produce two new  daughter cell.
Organisms which undergoes this type of reproduction are Paramecium, amoeba, bacteria etc.
[b.] spore formation: Spores are asexual reproductive units formed by some lower organisms like fungi {fungus}.
Spores are dispersed by wind, whenever the sporangium becomes mature and burst. have you ever ask your self why mucus grows on an expired loaf of bread.  The reason is if a spore falls I n a suitable environment like the expired bread,  it germinates and give rise to new mycelium.

NOTE: Rhizopus which produces numerous spores in the sporangia are called sporangiosphores.
[c.]Budding: Budding is a type of reproduction in which the parent organism forms an out growth which then grows into a new organism. the new organism later move away from the parent organism, example is yeast.

2.SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Sexual reproduction is the type of reproduction which involves the fusion of the male and female gametes to form a zygote which may later develop into a new offspring. Or it can also be seen as the coming together of two different sex organ to give by different parents, to form a new offspring.

TYPES OF SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
There are two major types of sexual reproduction which are conjugation and fission of gametes.

(a.) Conjugation
meaning:  conjugation can be defined as the type of sexual reproduction which occurs in some lower organism such as spirogyra, Rhizopus, paramecium, mucor etc.
Therefore conjugation can be seen as the process by which hereditary or nuclear materials are passed down from one cell to another.

(b.) Fusion of gametes (Fertilization)
meaning: fusion of gametes is the union of the haploid male and female gametes to
produce diploid organisms called zygote. this process is known as Fertilization.
  In higher animals, these gametes are formed in special organs called (gonads).
The male gametes are called spermatozoa or sperm. and are produce in the testes by a meiotic cell division called (spermatogenesis). likewise the female gametes called ova or eggs are produce in the ovaries by a process called oogenesis.
 These process occurs only when the male and the female gametes comes together during mating.
    In higher plants like pride of Barbados, rose flower etc they also have the male and female gametes. The reproductive units in n plants is the flower. the male gametes is called (pollen grains), which are produced by the Anthers while the female gametes called (ovules), are produced by the ovary of the flower.
    When the  pollen grains and the ovules fused together during Fertilization they form what is known as zygote. after the Fertilization the ovules forms the seeds while the ovaries becomes the fruit.

ADVANTAGES OF SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
1. it allows for the production of hybrids of desirable traits.
2. It enhances survival in new or changing environment.
3. it maintains the chromosome number of the offspring and parents from generation to generation.
4. new varieties or species are produce
5. it helps in scientific research and discovery.
6. it leads to the continuity of endager species and helps in the reduction of extinctions .

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ASEXUAL AND SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
The following are some of the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction.
1.In asexual reproduction only one parent is involved while in sexual reproduction two parents are involved.
2. in asexual reproduction no gametes are formed while in sexual reproduction new gametes are formed.
3. In asexual reproduction no Fertilization while in sexual there is Fertilization.
4. in asexual reproduction more offsprings are produce while in sexual reproduction fewer offsprings are produce.
5. in asexual reproduction meiosis is not involved while sexual reproduction requires meiosis.
6. in asexual reproduction there's rapid mode of Fertilization and vice versa.

TERMINOLOGIES ASSOCIATED WITH REPRODUCTION
(#). vegetative reproduction:
Vegetative reproduction is the production of new organism from the vegetative parts of plants. such as stems, roots, and leaves.

(1). Artificial vegetative reproduction:
This reproduction involves the use of intelligence by man to grow new plants from the cut portion of the vegetative body of the parents plants.

CLASSES OF ARTIFICIAL VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION
(a.) CUTTING No when parts of plants are cuts and into several portions and replanted inorder to produce new plants. it is refered to as cutting. plants whose stems produces roots readily are propagated by stem cutting.and such stem must have at least two nodes at the end , before it is inserted into the ground for growth. examples are sweet potato sugar, cola, cane, hibiscus etc.

(b.) LAYERING:  A branch or shoot growing near to the ground is bent over so that one or two nodes could touch the ground and produce new ones.
When the roots are well established the stem is removed from the parent plant and transplanted to the field to become a new plant.

(c.) BUDDING: Budding is only used when plants are not growing easily from the cuttings. A bud is cut from a matured branch and attached with a  flat piece of stem and bud called Scion.

(d.) GRAFTING: Grafting is a type of artificial vegetative reproduction  which involves the application of a whole shoot or stem(scion) into another plant called the stock. Grafting brings close into contact the vascular cambia of both the Scion and the stock.
examples of plants propagated by Grafting are citrus e.g tangerine, orange, grape etc.