reproduction – the process in which new organisms are created

To remember the meaning of reproduction, use the following mnemonic:

 They reproduced, in this production (reproduction), a very realistic creation of a new organism. 

Reproduction is the biological process by which living organisms produce offspring to ensure the continuation of their species. There are two main types of reproduction; sexual reproduction, which involves the fusion of male and female gametes (sex cells) from two parents to create a genetically varied off spring, and asexual reproduction, which involves only one parent producing genetically identical offspring or clones. 

In sexual reproduction, organisms like humans and flowering plants produce specialised sex cells (gametes) which contain half the normal number of chromosomes and when fertilisation occurs, the full chromosome number is restored in the offspring. 

Asexual reproduction includes binary fission in bacteria, where cells split into two, both with a nucleus. Another example of asexual reproduction occurs with yeast, where a 'bud' forms on the parent plant cell and then breaks off to form a new independent cell. 

Sexual reproduction creates genetic variation, which is advantageous for species survival as it increases the chances that some offspring will survive environmental changes, while asexual reproduction is faster and more efficient as it doesn't require finding a mate. Some bacteria can reproduce asexually in as little as 20 minutes. This rapid reproduction allows them to quickly colonize environments and outcompete other organisms.