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Sexual Reproduction
What is Sexual Reproduction?
• Usually involves two individuals
• In humans and mammals, it involves a male and
female. Also occurs in other species, like plants
and coral, that are not necessarily male or female
• Sexual reproduction in plants or animals is the
union of two sex cells, also called gametes to
produce a new individual.
What is Sexual Reproduction?
• Sex cells from females are called eggs or ova
(singular: ovum)
• Sex cells from males are called sperm
• A sex cell has one role only, join with another sex
cell during reproduction to form a new individual
• The union of a sperm with an egg occurs during
mating and is called fertilization
What is Sexual Reproduction?
•Most species of animals and flowering
plants reproduce sexually
•The offspring have a mix of traits
from both parents, this is important
for biological diversity
What is Sexual Reproduction?
• For First Nations and Métis peoples, sexual
reproduction is not simply a process whereby sex
cells join.
• Elders teach that sexual reproduction bears sanctity
as sexual reproduction produces life.
• Most First Nations and Métis peoples believe that all
living things are sacred and that no one organism, be
it plant, insect, or human, is more important that
the other.