Which form of asexual reproduction allows females to produce offspring from unfertilized eggs?

Which form of asexual reproduction allows females to produce offspring from unfertilized eggs?

• A. Apomixis
• B. Parthenogenesis
• C. Cloning
• D. Binary Fission

Answer: (B)

The correct answer, parthenogenesis, is a form of asexual reproduction in which an organism develops from an unfertilized egg. This process allows females to produce offspring without the need for sperm, leading to offspring that are genetically similar to the mother. Parthenogenesis is observed in a variety of species, including certain reptiles, amphibians, and even some insects. In contrast, apomixis is a specific type of asexual reproduction that involves the formation of seeds without fertilization, primarily in plants, and does not directly describe the reproductive method in animals. Cloning typically refers to producing genetically identical copies of an organism, which usually involves more complex processes such as somatic cell nuclear transfer. Binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction common in unicellular organisms like bacteria, where a single cell divides into two distinct daughter cells. Thus, parthenogenesis is uniquely characterized by the production of new individuals from unfertilized eggs, marking it as the correct choice in this context.

The correct answer, parthenogenesis, is a form of asexual reproduction in which an organism develops from an unfertilized egg. This process allows females to produce offspring without the need for sperm, leading to offspring that are genetically similar to the mother. Parthenogenesis is observed in a variety of species, including certain reptiles, amphibians, and even some insects.

In contrast, apomixis is a specific type of asexual reproduction that involves the formation of seeds without fertilization, primarily in plants, and does not directly describe the reproductive method in animals. Cloning typically refers to producing genetically identical copies of an organism, which usually involves more complex processes such as somatic cell nuclear transfer. Binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction common in unicellular organisms like bacteria, where a single cell divides into two distinct daughter cells. Thus, parthenogenesis is uniquely characterized by the production of new individuals from unfertilized eggs, marking it as the correct choice in this context.