Skip to main content

What type of asexual reproduction does a potato use?

Sexual reproduction, something that is more familiar to humans as it is how humans replicate, requires two parents (or gene sources) contributing genetic information to an offspring that will be unique. Gametes are the cells involved in this. The offspring, while having traits from both parents, will also have unique traits on the basis of genetics. Meanwhile, some species reproduce asexually. A key difference between sexual and asexual reproduction is that the offspring resulting from...

Sexual reproduction, something that is more familiar to humans as it is how humans replicate, requires two parents (or gene sources) contributing genetic information to an offspring that will be unique. Gametes are the cells involved in this. The offspring, while having traits from both parents, will also have unique traits on the basis of genetics. Meanwhile, some species reproduce asexually. A key difference between sexual and asexual reproduction is that the offspring resulting from the latter is genetically identical to the parent - i.e. it is a genetic clone of the parent.


An advantage of asexual reproduction has been in agriculture. It allows for larger and faster production, and since the resulting offspring are identical to the parent, parents with desirable traits can be cloned. However, this can be disadvantageous in the case of a mutation as the entire set of clones can be terminated.


There are various ways to reproduce asexually. There is binary fission, budding, spore, fragmentation, agamogenesis (no male), parthenogenesis.


For potatoes, they reproduce sexually naturally via pollination by bees between potato plants. They also require seeds, the cells involved for sexual reproduction in plants. Meanwhile, potatoes can also be grown asexually through vegetative reproduction. This can be done, for potatoes, but planting a part of it (e.g. half a potato) and growing it. The result will be potatoes genetically identical to the parent potato. This is similar to budding (except potatoes are tubers), where an offspring grows from an existing root stem.



--short answer


Potatoes can be reproduced asexually through vegetative reproduction (similar to budding).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more