State the actual mode of vegetative propagation in algae
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A few years ago, I wanted to start growing rose bushes in my side yard. My neighbor was a master gardener and said he would give me some cuttings - basically some stems of a rose bush. I was so confused. Didn't I need seeds? Aren't all plants started from seeds?
If this scenario has happened to you, you're not alone. Many people have the misconception that the only way to start a new plant, in other words to propagate a plant, is to gather seeds from a female plant and then plant those seeds. This is an example of sexual reproduction. However, this is not the only way to propagate a plant. Other ways do not involve seeds and utilize asexual reproduction instead. When plants reproduce this way it is called vegetative propagation. Before we get into the types of vegetative propagation, let's first review the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction.
Sexual and Asexual Reproduction
It's likely that you are most familiar with sexual reproduction, so we'll start there. When humans reproduce, an egg cell and a sperm cell unite and a new organism is created. The egg and sperm are made by the females and males of the species, respectively. The new offspring is different from both its mother and its father due to the mixture of DNA.
Sexual reproduction in plants is very similar. A sperm cell (in the form of pollen) unites with an egg cell and a new organism is created. For many plants, the new organism is contained in a seed. A seed is similar to a baby human inside a womb. Given the right nutrients, it has everything it needs to grow into an adult plant. Just like all humans are the result of sexual reproduction, seeds are the result of sexual reproduction.
But unlike humans, plants can propagate using asexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction happens whenever a new organism is made without going through the sperm-and-egg process of sexual reproduction. Because there is no mixture of two sets of DNA, the new organism is identical to the original organism.
If this scenario has happened to you, you're not alone. Many people have the misconception that the only way to start a new plant, in other words to propagate a plant, is to gather seeds from a female plant and then plant those seeds. This is an example of sexual reproduction. However, this is not the only way to propagate a plant. Other ways do not involve seeds and utilize asexual reproduction instead. When plants reproduce this way it is called vegetative propagation. Before we get into the types of vegetative propagation, let's first review the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction.
Sexual and Asexual Reproduction
It's likely that you are most familiar with sexual reproduction, so we'll start there. When humans reproduce, an egg cell and a sperm cell unite and a new organism is created. The egg and sperm are made by the females and males of the species, respectively. The new offspring is different from both its mother and its father due to the mixture of DNA.
Sexual reproduction in plants is very similar. A sperm cell (in the form of pollen) unites with an egg cell and a new organism is created. For many plants, the new organism is contained in a seed. A seed is similar to a baby human inside a womb. Given the right nutrients, it has everything it needs to grow into an adult plant. Just like all humans are the result of sexual reproduction, seeds are the result of sexual reproduction.
But unlike humans, plants can propagate using asexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction happens whenever a new organism is made without going through the sperm-and-egg process of sexual reproduction. Because there is no mixture of two sets of DNA, the new organism is identical to the original organism.
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