UNIT 9.

FUNCTIONS OF LIVING THINGS

INTERACTION AND REPRODUCTION
1. FUNCTION OF REPRODUCTION
Reproduction is the set of processes which function to continue the
species.
2. REPRODUCTION IN ANIMALS
Depending on the complexity of the animals, they can be reproduced by
three mechanisms:
Asexual reproduction: it is performed by poorly developed
animals, and new organisms are produced from a single parent in
one of two processes:
a) Fragmentation: typical starfish, where a fragment can lead to a
new individual.

b) Budding or gemmation: typical of sponges and corals. Buds appear in

the parent, resulting in a new individual. It can be attached to the parent
and form a colony, or separated and isolated individuals are formed.

Sexual reproduction: most animals have this type of

reproduction, and usually have separated sexes. A female individual,
with a female gonad or ovary produces female gametes or eggs,
and a male individual with a male gonad or testicles produces male
gametes or sperm. The union of egg and spermatozoon cell
generates a new egg cell or zygote, which will lead to a new
individual with a mix of the characteristics of both parents.
Some species are hermaphroditic, and the same individual has two

gonads, sometimes acting as male and sometimes as female. This is

the case in worms or snails.

Alternant reproduction: It is typical of jellyfish or cnidarian.
Where some generations are formed by budding and others
alternating to produce male and female cells which originate a
zygote by sexual reproduction.

3. THE REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS

Plants can make 3 types of reproduction:
Asexual reproduction: from a single plant will make another equal
to the first. This can be achieved by several mechanisms, including:
a) Bulbs: as onions or garlic.
b) tubers or underground stems: as the potato.
c) Stolons: like strawberries. They are trailing stems that take root
when they contact with the ground and form a new plant.
d) Stems: as geraniums, stems from being introduced into the earth.
e) Grafts: as the pear trees or roses, where the trunk of a species
(rose) introduces a stalk of another variety (wild rose) and forms a
more resilient intermediate variety.
Sexual reproduction: Characteristic of flowering plants, which
takes place in the same flower. The male reproductive are the
stamens and the gynoecium is the female where the eggs are

fertilized and form seeds.

Alternant reproduction: It is typical of non-flowering plants such

as mosses and ferns. In both plants alternating two individuals, one
formed from an asexual spore called gametophyte, which produces
sex cells that generate zygote. When these germinate it gives rise
to another individual named sporophyte, which produces asexual
spores.

4. FUNCTION OF INTERACTION
It is the set of processes to obtain outside information in order to
develop appropriated responses.
5. INTERACTION IN ANIMALS
It is performed by the nervous system and endocrine system.
The nervous system consists of three types of organs:
a) Receptor organs that catch information from outside. They are
the sense organs (sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch) , which receive
light, chemical, thermal, mechanical stimulis, and so on.

b) Coordinating organs which process information and develop

appropiate responses. They are the brain (controls intelligence, memory,
etc.), cerebellum (controls voluntary movements such as running, picking
things, etc), medulla (control function of the heart, lungs, etc.), spinal cord
(control reflex actions, such as closing the eyes when somewhere enters),
and nerves.

c) Effector organs that develop the answers. These are the muscles and glands.
The endocrine system consists of a set of endocrine glands that produce
chemical substances called hormones, which travel through the blood and reach all the
organs, but only act in certain organs called target organs. The endocrine system is
responsible for changes in animals, such as the metamorphosis of insects or frogs.

6. INTERACTION IN PLANTS
Plants have not got a nervous system but do have endocrine
system, which allows them to interact with their environment. Although
plants cannot move, they can make small movements. These can be of
two types:
a) Tropisms: movements that are influenced by the direction of the
stimulus. For example, the movement of sunflowers following the sun
(fototropisms), growth of roots down into soil (geotropisms).
b) Nastics: movements that are not influenced by the direction of the

stimulus. For example, mimosa leaves retract when touched.

ACTIVITIES OF REPRODUCTION:
1.What is the main difference between sexual
and asexual reproduction?
2.Describe :
a) animal fragmentation.
b) Example of:
fragmentation
Budding or gemmation.
3.Most jellyfish pass through two life phases
during their life cycle. Make a drawing to
illustrate this.
4.Research examples of sexual dimorphism.
Then describe the animals:
The female is brown and small. The male is larger
with bright colours.
5.Which of the following statements
correspond to sexual or asexual
reproduction?
a) the descendant is identical to the progenitor.
b) Organisms which grow in soil.
c) this requires two organisms.
d) formation of gametes.
e) Fertilisation must occur.
f) The descendants characteristics are a mix of
both progenitors.
g) Diversity among individuals of a species.
h) An individual organism can generate many
descendants.

ACTIVITIES OF INTERACTION:
1.What is interaction? What elements does
interaction involve? Copy and complete:
Interaction is...
Stimulli

Receptors

.............

..............

Detectable
changes in
the internal
of external
environmen
t

2.Which
sense
organ
detects
chemical
substances in air?
3.Can you solve these sense organ riddles?
This organ is used by...
a) arthropods to smell things.
b) fish to detect temperature changes.
c) most animals to detect pressure.
d) some animals to distinguish sounds.
4.Which of the senses of a mammal provides
more information about the environment?
Why?
5.The gazelle hears the cheetah.
a) what other two senses does the gazelle use to
detect the presence of the cheetah?
b) which sense do you think is most developed in
the gazelle? Give a reason for your answer.