Class 8 Science Reproduction Exam Notes

Class 8 Science Reproduction Exam Notes. Please refer to the examination notes which you can use for preparing and revising for exams. These notes will help you to revise the concepts quickly and get good marks.

Class 8 Science Reproduction Exam Notes

Covers the following topics:

1. Reproduction
2. Asexual reproduction
3. Sexual reproduction
4. Sexual reproduction in Human
5. Development of Embryo
6. Gestation and Child birth
7. Metamorphosis

REPRODUCTION

The process by which living organisms produce offspring of their own kind is called reproduction.

Types of reproduction:

1. Asexual reproduction
2. Sexual reproduction

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

This occurs without involving sex organs. Asexual reproduction requires only one parent for multiplication and formation of new offspring. It does not require both male and female parents. It is the simplest form of reproduction and is commonly found in unicellular organisms (Amoeba, Paramecium) and lower animals like hydra, starfish, sponges and worms.

The various methods of asexual reproduction commonly found in animals are as follows:

Binary Fission:

When one mature unicellular organism like Amoeba splits into two daughter individuals, the process is called binary fission. This type of reproduction occurs when environmental conditions are most favourable.

In Amoeba, the nucleus first divides into two nuclei. Then the cytoplasm divides into two parts, each containing a nucleus. A constriction develops in the body which gradually deepens to form two daughter amoebae. This type of reproduction is binary fission.

Budding:

In this type of reproduction, as seen in hydra, a small outgrowth appears on the body of the organism. This outgrowth is called a bud. The nucleus of the parent body divides into two and one nucleus goes into the bud. The bud grows and finally gets detached from the parent body of hydra and begins to live as an independent individual.

Since new individuals develop from the bud in hydra, this type of reproduction is called budding.

Besides these two processes, there are other methods of asexual reproduction which you will study in your higher classes.

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

This is one of the most common methods of reproduction, found in most animals including human beings. In sexual reproduction, two parents, one male and the other female, are required. Each parent produces reproductive cells called gametes. The male gamete is called a sperm and the female gamete is known as an egg or ovum.

Those organisms which produce only one type of gamete are called unisexual, e.g. dog, cat, fish, man, birds, reptiles.

Those organisms which have both the male and female sex organs in their body are called bisexual or hermaphrodite, e.g. earthworm, leech, hydra.

Fertilisation:

The process of fusion of the sperm with the ovum is called fertilisation. A zygote is formed after fertilisation.

Types of fertilisation: There are two types of fertilisation in animals.Internal fertilisation: When the fertilisation occurs inside the body of the female, as it happens in humans, it is called internal fertilisation. Internal fertilisation takes place in most of the higher animals, e.g. birds, mammals.External fertilisation: When the eggs are fertilised outside the body of the female, it is called external fertilisation. Fertilisation in animals like frog and fish is external. In these organisms, the eggs are discharged outside the body, i.e. in water. On these eggs, the male discharges the sperms to fertilise them.

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN HUMAN

The Male Reproductive System: The male reproductive system of humans consists of the following organs: testis (inside the scrotum), vas deferens, urethra, penis, and the glands (prostate gland and Cowper’s gland), seen along with the kidney and urinary bladder in the labelled illustration (not reproduced).

Testes: There is a pair of testes which lie outside the body within the scrotum. They produce millions of sperms.Vas Deferens (Sperm duct): The vas deferens are two in number. Each duct connects a testis to the urethra. It carries sperms to the urethra along with the secretions of reproductive glands. This mixture of sperms and secretions is called semen.Urethra: The two vas deferens open into the urethra, which passes through the penis.Penis: The urethra leads to a muscular organ called the penis. It is used to deliver semen into the vagina of the female during mating. It is also used to pass urine.Sperms: Sexual maturity in human males is attained around the age of 14 to 15 years. Sperms are produced in millions by the testes. They are very small in size. Each sperm consists of a head, a middle piece and a tail. Sperms swim in semen with the help of the tail.The Female Reproductive System: The female reproductive system of humans consists of the following organs: ovaries, oviduct (fallopian tube), uterus, cervix and vagina (labelled illustration not reproduced).

Ovaries: There are two ovaries which are situated in the abdominal cavity. Each ovary produces one mature ovum (egg) every month, a process called ovulation. Like a sperm, an egg is also a single cell.Oviduct or Fallopian Tubes: It is a muscular tube which joins the uterus with the ovary. It carries the ovum into the uterus.Uterus: It is a hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ. The development of the baby takes place inside it. The lower narrow part of the uterus is called the cervix.Vagina: The uterus opens into a wide muscular tube called the vagina. The vagina receives the penis during mating. The sperms are discharged into the vagina.

DEVELOPMENT OF EMBRYO

1. Once the zygote reaches the uterus, it implants itself there. The zygote then starts dividing repeatedly to give rise to a ball of cells.
2. The developing baby is called the embryo during the first eight weeks after fertilisation. The embryo attaches itself to the uterus wall with the help of the placenta.
3. The embryo continues to develop in the uterus. It gradually develops body parts such as hands, legs, eyes, ears, etc. From eight weeks till birth, the baby is called a foetus.
4. During this period of pregnancy, the baby takes in nourishment from the mother through the placenta and the umbilical cord.
5. The uterus increases in size as the foetus grows. The uterus is filled with a fluid called amniotic fluid that protects the foetus from jerks and changes in temperature.

GESTATION AND CHILD BIRTH

The period between fertilisation and the birth of the baby is called gestation. The expectant mother is called pregnant. In humans, it lasts for about 40 weeks or around nine months.

After nine months of pregnancy, the baby is delivered. Natural child birth or labour can last for several hours and is very painful for the mother. Sometimes, due to some complications, doctors remove the child from the womb surgically. This is known as a caesarean operation.

Babies delivered before completing the gestation period are termed premature babies and need special care.

METAMORPHOSIS

The process of change by which a larva is transformed into an adult is called metamorphosis.

Egg → Tadpole → Adult

A frog lays eggs in large numbers. The process of laying eggs in large numbers is called spawning. The baby that hatches out of the frog’s egg is called a tadpole. The tadpole undergoes several changes before it becomes an adult frog.

1.Reproduction

2.Asexual reproduction

3.Sexual reporoduction

5.Development of Embryo

6.Gestation & Child birth                

7.Metamorphosis             

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