Concept

Reproduction

Overview

Reproduction (or procreation or breeding) is the biological process by which new individual organisms – offspring – are produced from their parent or parents. There are two forms of reproduction: asexual and sexual.

In asexual reproduction, an organism can reproduce without the involvement of another organism. Asexual reproduction is not limited to single-celled organisms. The cloning of an organism is a form of asexual reproduction. By asexual reproduction, an organism creates a genetically similar or identical copy of itself. The evolution of sexual reproduction is a major puzzle for biologists. The two-fold cost of sexual reproduction is that only 50% of organisms reproduce, and organisms only pass on 50% of their genes.

Sexual reproduction typically requires the sexual interaction of two specialized reproductive cells, called gametes, which contain half the number of chromosomes of somatic cells and are created by meiosis, with typically a sperm cell fertilizing an egg cell of the same species to create a fertilized zygote. This produces offspring organisms whose genetic characteristics are derived from both parental organisms.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).

Possible passages

Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.

1. This reproduction is but a special manifestation of the reconstructive change which is _always_ taking place in the nervous system; it being not less obvious to the eye of reason that the 'waste' occasioned by its functional activity must be constantly repaired by the production of new tissue, than it is to the eye of sense that such reparation supplies an actual _loss_ of substance by disease or injury.

   William James, The Principles of Psychology, Volume 1

   States what Reproduction is; names Reproduction several times.

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2. Throughout the animal kingdom, the new individuals produced by gamogenesis are obviously separated in the shape of centres of development wherever the reproduction is oviparous: the only conspicuous variation being in the quantity of nutritive matter bequeathed by the parent at the time of separation. And though, where the reproduction is viviparous, the process appears to be different, and in one sense is so, yet…

   Herbert Spencer, The Principles of Biology, Volume 1

   States what Reproduction is; names Reproduction twice.

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3. (3) the making of reproductions by a governmental body or a nonprofit institution of a transmission program simultaneously with its transmission as specified in paragraph (1), and the performance or display of the contents of such program under the conditions specified by paragraph (1) of section 110, but only if the reproductions are used for performances or displays for a period of no more than seven days from the…

   United States, Copyright Law of the United States of America and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code, Circular 92

   Names Reproduction several times; opens on Reproduction.

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Philosophers who discussed Reproduction

• Chrysippus

Related ideas

• Analogy
• Abiogenesis
• The Guardian
• Organism
• Metabolism
• Species
• PBS
• Embryo
• Gene
• Bee
• George Christopher Williams
• Evolution

Place in the tradition

Part of Agnosticism.

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