Reproduction in Fungi

This page focuses on the reproductive strategies of fungi, an important topic in Combined Science Knowledge Organiser pdf.

Fungi primarily reproduce asexually through the production of spores via mitosis. These spores are genetically identical to the parent.

Vocabulary: Hyphae are thin threads that make up the structure of fungi.

Sexual reproduction in fungi occurs when conditions are unfavorable:

1. Two hyphae from different fungi join
2. Nuclei fuse, creating a new hypha with two sets of chromosomes
3. Meiosis produces haploid spores with one set of chromosomes

Highlight: Sexual reproduction in fungi can produce spores better adapted to survive adverse conditions.

Variation and Natural Selection

This final page ties together the concepts of reproduction and variation, focusing on their role in natural selection and evolution, key topics in B17 biology gcse aqa.

Variation produced by sexual reproduction is crucial for the long-term survival of species. It allows for adaptation to changing environments through natural selection.

Definition: Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

The advantages of variation include:

• Increased chances of survival in changing environments
• Ability to adapt to new challenges
• Resistance to diseases or predators

Highlight: While asexual reproduction is efficient for rapid population growth in stable environments, sexual reproduction's ability to produce varied offspring is advantageous for long-term species survival.

Page 8: Family Trees and Inherited Disorders

This section explores how genetic characteristics are traced through generations and examines inherited disorders.

Example: Polydactyly, causing extra fingers or toes, is used to demonstrate dominant allele inheritance.

Highlight: Family trees help predict genetic makeup and inheritance patterns.