Question

(a) What is a clone? Why do offsprings produced by asexual reproduction exhibit remarkable similarity?
(b) What is the basis for evolution?
(c) Where is the zygote located in the flower after fertilization?

Answer 1

Hint: Reproduction is the process of formation of new individuals from their parents. It is a mechanism by which any particular species survives on earth. Even the Darwinian concept of evolution, survival of the fittest, the fitness being talked of is the reproductive fitness. Reproduction is of two major types – the asexual mode and the sexual mode of reproduction. Evolution occurs due to heritable variations between offspring and parents. Thus, reproduction accounts for survival and evolution.

Complete answer:
a. In this part the term clone is more commonly used for the offsprings produced by asexual reproduction.
Clones are organisms which are morphologically as well as genetically identical to each other. The term clone can also be used for those cells which are derived from a common progenitor cell via the process of mitosis.
Now, progenies or offsprings obtained from asexual reproduction are similar because they have the same genetic makeup as of their parents and during their formation genetic recombination had never taken place. In other words, these are the result of simple mitotic divisions and its modification like budding or binary fission.
b. The basis of evolution as asked in this part is the population.
Population is the basis of evolution. Evolution is defined as the change in the genetic characteristics of a biological population passed on from generation to generation. Evolution also produces mutations. This will lead to changes in the genetic makeup of the general population, leading to mutations.
c. The zygote formed as a result of fertilization of female gamete and female gamete is present in the ovules which are in turn present in the ovary. Post-fertilization the ovules become seeds and the ovary forms the fruits.

Note:
For evolution to occur the species must be able to reproduce. Further, within a population reproductive isolation leads to speciation and the evolution of two species. Thus, evolution and reproduction are related to each other. Moreover, Sexual reproduction is advantageous for evolution as it incorporates variations due to the presence of crossing over or recombination.