GRAD E
12 Life Sciences
SELF STUDY GUIDE 2
REPRODUCTION
1. REPRODUCTION IN VERTEBRATES
2. HUMAN REPRODUCTION
3. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM AND HOMEOSTASIS
3. REPRODUCTION IN VERTEBRATES (8 MARKS)
TERM 1 PAPER 1
DURATION ½ week WEIGHTING 8 marks (5%)
LINKS TO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE/BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Grade 9 – Reproductive systems, Grade 12 - Meiosis
3.1 KEY CONCEPTS/ MINDMAPS
Internal
fertilisation
Fertilisation
External
fertilisation
Ovipary
Embryo Amniotic
Reproductive development egg
strategies Ovovipary
Vivipary
Types of Precocial
development
Altricial
Parental
care
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3.2 TERMINOLOGY
Note: ensure that you know these definitions well.
BIOLOGICAL TERM DESCRIPTION
Allantois The structure in the amniotic egg that stores wastes
Amniotic egg A type of egg where the embryo develops inside a fluid-filled sac which is
surrounded by a shell
Zygote The diploid cell formed by the process of fertilisation
DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN RELATED TERMINOLOGIES
ALTRICIAL DEVELOPMENT PRECOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The reproductive strategy when offspring are The reproductive strategy when offspring are
not able to move and feed themselves at the able to move and feed themselves at the
moment of birth or hatching moment of birth or hatching
ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Type of reproduction that does not involve Type of reproduction that involves the fusion of
fusion of gametes a male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete
(ovum).
EXTERNAL FERTILISATION INTERNAL FERTILISATION
A type of fertilisation in which the nucleus of A type of fertilisation in which the nucleus of a
a sperm fuses with the nucleus of an ovum sperm fuses with the nucleus of an ovum inside
outside the body of the female the reproductive system of the female
OVIPARY OVOVIVIPARY VIVIPARY
The reproductive strategy A type of reproduction whereby A type of reproduction where
involving the laying of eggs the egg hatches within the the foetus develops inside
body of the female such that the uterus
the young are born live.
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3.3 EXAMINATION TECHNIQUES AND TIPS
Fertilisation
EXTERNAL FERTILISATION INTERNAL FERTILISATION
Fertilisation occurs outside the body of the Fertilisation occurs inside the body of the
female. female.
Sperm cells are released directly into the The sperm cell of the male is transferred into the
water and fuse with the egg cell. (Water is female by sexual intercourse and fuses with the
required) ovum. (No water is required)
Examples: aquatic animals like frogs, Examples: mammals, birds and insects.
sponges, jellyfish, worms and fish.
Embryo development
EXPLANATION EXAMPLE
Ovipary These are egg laying animals. The eggs are Birds, reptiles and amphibians
laid by the female and the embryo develops
inside the egg. The hard outer shell serves
as protection until the egg is ready to hatch.
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Ovovivipary A type of reproduction whereby the egg Sharks, lizards and some snakes
hatches within the body of the female
such that the young are born live.
Tip: ‘ovo’ refers to the egg and ‘vivi’
refers to the production of live offspring.
Vivipary A type of reproduction where the foetus Most mammals (including humans),
develops in the uterus of the female and whales and kangaroos
offspring are born live. The developing
foetus gets all its nourishment from the
placenta of the mother.
Amniotic egg
shell
yolk
provides
albumen
nutrients
(egg-white)
air space
chorion gaseous
transfers nutrients exchange
from the albumen
to the embryo
O2 diffuses in
embryo
CO2 diffuses in
amnion allantois
protection of stores waste
the embryo
A type of egg where the embryo develops inside a fluid-filled sac which is surrounded by a shell
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PRECOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ALTRICIAL DEVELOPMENT
Development in birds that is complete such that Development in birds that is incomplete such
the young are born independent, with eyes open, that the young are born helpless, with eyes
with down feathers and able to move or feed closed, without down feathers and unable to
independently. move or feed independently.
This is due to the large quantity of yolk in the egg This is due to the small quantity of yolk in the
which lasts longer, allowing more time for egg which restricts the time available for full
development. development. Altricial (gets all from parents)
Note: Eggs with more yolk provide more Note: internal fertilisation can take place in
nutrients to embryos which means that they will both altricial and precocial development. Not
be stronger when born and most likely precocial. only birds are precocial or altricial in
The offspring will be strong, able to stand and development. Look at the evidence of the
feed itself. offspring.
Examples: birds, cattle, sheep, antelopes, Examples: birds, kangaroos, humans, owls,
buffalo, elephants, hippos and giraffe. cats and dogs.
Parental care
In higher order animals. Parental care is a behaviour that increases the survival of the young. As a
reproductive strategy, those animals which invest more energy prenatally (before birth) usually display
very little parental care once young have been born. In animals where less energy is invested
prenatally, most postnatal parental care is offered.
Parental care can be seen in the following examples:
• Building of nests and incubation of eggs
• Guarding from predators
• Teaching offspring
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PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1 DBE, November 2015 (2), Paper 1
Read the passage below.
REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGY IN KANGAROOS
The red kangaroo reproduces by sexual reproduction. After mating, the fertilised egg
undergoes gestation in the uterus. After 33 days of gestation, the red kangaroo gives birth
to an offspring that is hairless, blind and only a few centimetres long.
The offspring moves from the vagina by following a trail of saliva secreted by the mother
to a protective pouch where it remains for a year. During this time the offspring drinks milk
from the mother who has teats in her pouch.
After 190 days it leaves the pouch.
When approaching this type of case study question, first read the questions then read the paragraph,
thinking about the questions.
1.1 State whether:
(a) Fertilisation in the red kangaroo species is INTERNAL or EXTERNAL (1)
Fertilisation takes place inside the female’s body.
Internal fertilisation ü
(b) The red kangaroo species is OVIPAROUS, OVOVIVIPAROUS or
VIVIPAROUS (1)
The foetus is attached to the mother by an umbilical cord and the young
are born live not hatched from an egg.
Viviparous ü
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1.2 Give a reason for your answer to QUESTION 1.1(b). (1)
Foetus develops in the mother’s uterus ü
1.3 State TWO ways in which the survival of the offspring immediately after
birth is ensured in the red kangaroo species. (2)
These answers you get directly from the extract
- Protected as it develops in the mother’s pouch ü
parental
- Nourished with mother’s milk ü
care
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3.4 TYPICAL EXAM QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1 (Questions taken from various sources)
1. Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Choose the
correct answer and write only the letter (A to D) next to the question number (1.1 to 1.3) in the
ANSWER BOOK, for example 1. D.
1.1 The structure in the amniotic egg that supplies nutrients:
A Shell
B Allantois
C Chorion
D Yolk sac
1.2 Which ONE of the following involves the development of the young inside the uterus of the
mother and where it receives nutrients through the placenta?
A Ovipary
B Vivipary
C Ovovivipary
D Amniotic egg
1.3 Below is a list of terms relating to reproduction
(i) Precocial development
(ii) Altricial development
(iii) Amniotic egg
(iv) Parental care
Which of the terms above refer to strategies used by birds that incubate their eggs in a nest
and feed their young until they are able to fly?
A (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
B (i), (iii) and (iv) only
C (ii), (iii) and (iv) only
D (i), (ii) and (iii) only (3 x 2) (6)
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QUESTION 2 (Questions taken from various sources)
2 Give the correct biological term for each of the following descriptions.
Write only the term next to the question number (2.1 to 2.8) in the ANSWER BOOK.
2.1 The type of egg produced by reptiles that has extra-embryonic membranes
2.2 The type of development in birds where the hatchlings' eyes are open and their
bodies are covered with down feathers
2.3 A type of fertilisation in which the nucleus of a sperm fuses with the nucleus of an
ovum outside the body of the female
2.4 The type of development in birds where the young are incapable of moving around
on their own
2.5 The type of fertilisation associated with vivipary
2.6 A behavioural pattern of animals feeding their young and protecting them from
predators
2.7 Type of fertilisation that happens mostly in aquatic habitats when eggs are
released from the female's body and are sprayed with sperm
2.8 The type of fertilisation where the ovum is fertilised inside the female reproductive
organs (8)
3 Indicate whether each of the statements in COLUMN I apply to A ONLY,
B ONLY, BOTH A AND B or NONE of the items in COLUMN II. Write A only, B only, both
A and B, or none next to the question number (3.1 to 3.6) in the ANSWER BOOK.
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COLUMN I COLUMN II
3.1 Nutrition provided by the egg A: Ovipary
B: Ovovivipary
3.2 A type of egg where the embryo A: Precocial
develops inside a fluid-filled sac B: Altricial
which is surrounded by a shell
3.3 Type of reproduction in vertebrates A: Vivipary
where the foetus is attached to and B: Ovovivipary
develops inside the uterus
3.4 A structure involved in gaseous A: Allantois
exchange in the amniotic egg B: Amnion
3.5 Advantage(s) of the amniotic egg A: Provides nutrition
B: Allows gaseous exchange
3.6 Requires the production of a large A: External fertilisation
number of gametes to ensure B: Internal fertilisation
survival of the species
(6x 2) (12)
QUESTION 4 (DBE, Nov. 2019, Paper 1)
4 The table below shows a comparison of the composition of the amniotic egg in three different
bird species.
4.1 Define ovovivipary
(2)
4.2 Which ONE of the bird species (1, 2 or 3) most probably shows a precocial development
reproductive strategy? (1)
4.3 Explain your answer to QUESTION 4.2. (2)
4.4 Which ONE of the bird species (1, 2 or 3) will possibly produce offspring requiring the highest
degree of parental care? (1)
(6)
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5 Study the diagrams below and answer the questions that follow.
5.1 Name the parts labelled:
(a) X (1)
(b) Y
(1)
5.2 What is the function of part Z? (1)
5.3 Write only the LETTER/S of the diagram/s that represent/s:
(a) Ovipary (3)
(b) Vivipary (1)
5.4 Write only the LETTER of the diagram that represents precocial development. (1)
(8)
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3.5 SOLUTIONS
REPRODUCTION IN VERTEBRATES
QUESTION 1
1.1. DPP
1.2 BPP
1.3 CPP (3 x 2) (6)
QUESTION 2
2.1 Amniotic eggü
2.2 Precocialü
2.3 Externalüfertilisation
2.4 Altricialü
2.5 Internalü
2.6 Parental careü
2.7 External fertilisation ü
2.8 Internalüfertilisation (8x 1) (8)
QUESTION 3
3.1 Both A and B PP
3.2 NonePP
3.3 A onlyPP
3.4 A only PP
3.5 Both A and BPP
3.6 A onlyPP (6 x 2) (12)
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QUESTION 4
4.1 Eggs are retained/hatch in the female body and the young are born liveüü (2)
4.2 2ü (1)
4.3 - The egg has the highest yolks/energy contentü
- that will allow maximum development before hatchingü (2)
4.4 1ü (1)
(6)
QUESTION 5
5.1 (a) EmbryoP (1)
(b) AllantoisP (1)
5.2 Providing nutrients to the developing embryo P (1)
5.3 (a) AP, BP , CP (3)
(b) DP (1)
5.2 BP (1)
(8)
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