Biology · Ch 2 — Reproduction in Lower and Higher Animals
Introduction
Introduction
Reproduction is one of the major life processes of every living organism: it is the biological process by which new individuals arise from pre-existing ones of the same kind, and it is what keeps a species going even though each individual lives only for its own limited life span. This chapter follows reproduction through the animal kingdom in the order the events happen. It opens with the asexual methods of the lower animals, then works through sexual reproduction in humans: the male and female reproductive systems, the menstrual cycle, gametogenesis, fertilization, the early embryo, pregnancy, placenta and birth, and finally reproductive health, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and infertility.
Reproduction in animals occurs mainly by two methods, asexual and sexual.
Can you recall?
- Enlist the various life processes. Name the life process which is responsible for continuation of the human race.
- What are the common methods of reproduction in the unicellular organisms like Euglena, Amoeba and Paramoecium?
- What type of asexual reproduction occurs in Hydra?
- What are the different methods of reproduction in animals?
The Maharashtra State Board (MSBSHSE) Class 12 Biology syllabus is aligned with the NCERT/CBSE curriculum, so the human reproduction and reproductive health that make up most of this chapter overlap closely with the two NCERT Class 12 Biology chapters on those topics; students preparing for the HSC board exam and for NEET meet the same organs, hormones and stages in both.