This lab explores various means of reproduction. Sexual reproduction usually involves fusion of two haploid gametes, eggs and sperm. Sea urchin eggs are large enough for us to view the fertilization membrane formation, and subsequent division of the zygote. Yeast is our example of asexual reproduction.
Yeast use budding as their form of reproduction, which can also be viewed in the lab.
The life cycle and reproductive strategy of the fern is somewhat different than that of the flowering plants we have observed in earlier labs. This lab takes a look at both the similarities and differences in the reproductive strategies of these organisms. It is important to be familiar with the parts of both flowering and non-flowering plants, here are some of the important ones.