IGCSEBiologyCambridge (CIE)Revision Notes16. ReproductionReproduction in Plants & HumansAsexual Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology): Revision Note

Exam code: 0610 & 0970

Written by: Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn

Updated on 29 August 2026

Asexual reproduction

Asexual reproduction does not involve sex cells or fertilisation (opens in a new tab)
Only one parent is required so there is no fusion of gametes and no mixing of genetic information
As a result, the offspring are genetically identical to the parent and to each other (clones)
Asexual reproduction is defined as a process resulting in genetically identical offspring from one parent

Examples of asexual reproduction

Bacteria produce exact genetic copies of themselves in a type of asexual reproduction called binary fission
Binary fission produces two genetically identical daughter cells from the division of one parent bacterial cell

Diagram showing the stages of binary fission in bacteria, in which DNA and cell contents double in the parent cell before it divides to form two genetically identical daughter cells. — **Bacteria produce exact genetic copies of themselves in a type of asexual reproduction called binary fission**

Plants can reproduce asexually using bulbs and tubers; these are food storage organs from which budding can occur, producing new plants which are genetically identical to the parent plant:

Diagram explaining vegetative reproduction, showing labelled sections of a bulb with buds and leaf remains, and a tuber plant with underground swollen stems and buds — **Some plants develop underground food storage organs that will develop into next year's plants - they can take different forms, such as bulbs or tubers**

Some plants grow side shoots called runners that contain tiny plantlets on them
Strawberry plants reproduce asexually in this way
The plantlets grow roots and develop into separate plants, which are genetically identical to the parent plant

Diagram of showing a parent plant forming a runner that grows into a genetically identical plantlet, both with labelled roots in soil — **Some plants grow side shoots called runners that contain tiny plantlets on them. These will grow roots and develop into separate plants.**

Advantages & disadvantages of asexual reproduction: Extended

Species Type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Wild species	Rapid population growth	Limited genetic variation in population - offspring are genetically identical to their parents
	Can exploit suitable environments quickly	Vulnerability to habitat changes e.g. temperature changes, droughts or new predators
	More time and energy-efficient	Disease is likely to affect the whole population as there is no genetic variation
	Reproduction is completed much faster than sexual reproduction	No recombination of genes means evolution is slow
Crop plants	Crops can be produced with desired characteristics e.g. high yield, disease-resistant, drought resistant	Crops will not adapt to changes in climate if produced asexually
	Crops can be produced with uniform characteristics necessary for commercial sale	The process of asexual reproduction in crops requires human input and management
	Production of crops can be faster	If a diseased parent plant is used in the reproduction process, the offspring will also be diseased
	The cost of production will be less than investing in seeds	Vulnerability to disease or pests may result in big financial losses for the farmer

Unlock more, it's free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

I would just like to say a massive thank you for putting together such a brilliant, easy to use website.I really think using this site helped me secure my top gradesin science and maths. You really did save my exams! Thank you.

Beth
IGCSE Student

This website is soooo useful and I can’t ever thank you enough for organising questions by topic like this. Furthermore, the name of the website could not have been more appropriate as it literally did SAVE MY EXAMS!

Fathima
A Level Student

Incredible! SO worth my money, the revision notes have everything I need to know and are so easy to understand. I actually enjoy revising! It makes me feel a lot more confident for my GCSEs in a few months.

Kate
GCSE Student

Absolutely brilliant, both my girls used it for A levels and GCSE. It's saves on paper copies, also beneficial exam questions ranked from easy to hard. It's removed a lot of stress from the exams.

Sameera
Parent

Just to say that your resources are the best I have seen and I have been teaching chemistry at different levels for about 40 years

Mark
Chemistry Teacher

Excellent