Sexual vs. Asexual Reproduction
Ever wonder how living things make more of themselves? In asexual reproduction, a single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical to itself. This happens in many single-celled organisms and some plants.
Sexual reproduction involves two parents that produce special cells called gametes (egg and sperm). When these gametes unite during fertilization, they form a zygote—the first cell of a new organism with a complete set of chromosomes.
Your body uses mitosis for growth and repairs, but reproduction works differently. In males, sperm are produced in the testes (gonads) and travel through tubes called vas deferens. If these tubes are damaged, fertilization can't happen.
Fun Fact: Viruses can't reproduce on their own! They need to hijack a host cell to make copies of themselves.
