IB Diploma · Biology D3.1

IB Biology D3.1: Reproduction — Practice Questions & Answers

IB Biology D3.1 study notes: sexual and asexual reproduction, meiosis, gametes, fertilisation, hormones and reproduction in flowering plants.

Here are 10 practice questions with full answers and explanations.

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Practice questions with answers

1 Multiple choice

Asexual reproduction primarily results in:

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WhyAsexual reproduction involves one parent and mitosis, producing offspring genetically identical to the parent.
2 Multiple choice

Sexual reproduction contributes to evolutionary adaptation by:

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WhySexual reproduction shuffles alleles into new combinations, increasing variation on which selection can act.
3 Multiple choice

Meiosis plays a crucial role in sexual reproduction by:

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WhyMeiosis, through crossing over and independent assortment, breaks up parental allele combinations to create variation.
4 Multiple choice

The fusion of gametes during sexual reproduction is called:

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WhyFertilisation is the fusion of male and female gametes to form a diploid zygote.
5 Multiple choice

Compared to female gametes, male gametes are typically:

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WhyMale gametes are typically small and motile, adapted to travel to and reach the larger, immobile egg.
6 Multiple choice

The primary function of the human female reproductive system is to:

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WhyThe female reproductive system produces eggs and provides the environment for fertilisation and fetal development.
7 Multiple choice

Gametes in flowering plants are produced in:

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WhyFemale gametes form within ovules while male gametes are carried in pollen grains in flowering plants.
8 Multiple choice

Insect-pollinated flowers are typically:

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WhyInsect-pollinated flowers are brightly coloured and scented to attract pollinating animals.
9 Multiple choice

Cross-pollination is promoted by:

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WhySeveral mechanisms together, including separate sexes, timing, and self-incompatibility, promote cross-pollination.
10 Multiple choice

Self-incompatibility mechanisms in plants increase:

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WhySelf-incompatibility forces outcrossing, raising genetic diversity and reducing harmful recessive alleles being expressed.

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Key terms in Reproduction

Asexual reproduction: Reproduction from a single parent producing genetically identical offspring (clones) by mitosis, with no gamete fusion.
Sexual reproduction: Reproduction involving the fusion of two haploid gametes to produce genetically varied diploid offspring.
Gamete: A haploid sex cell (such as a sperm, egg or pollen nucleus) that fuses with another gamete at fertilisation.
Meiosis: A nuclear division producing four haploid cells from one diploid cell, halving the chromosome number and generating variation.
Fertilisation: The fusion of a male and a female gamete to form a diploid zygote, restoring the full chromosome number.
Crossing over: The exchange of DNA segments between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, creating new allele combinations.
Independent assortment: The random arrangement of homologous chromosome pairs during meiosis, mixing maternal and paternal chromosomes in gametes.
Pollination: The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma in flowering plants, often by wind or insects.

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Practise other IB Biology topics

A1.1 Water A1.2 Nucleic Acids A2.1 Orig. of cells A2.2 Cell Structure A2.3 Viruses A3.1 Div. of Org. A3.2 Clas. & Clad. A4.1 Evo. & Spec. A4.2 Cons. of Biodiv. B1.1 Carb. & Lipids B1.2 Proteins B2.1 Mem. & Mem. Trans. B2.2 Org. & Compart. B2.3 Cell Spec. B3.1 Gas Exchange B3.2 Transport B3.3 Muscle & Motility B4.1 Adapt. to Envir. B4.2 Eco. niches C1.1 Enzy. & Meta. C1.2 Cell Resp. C1.3 Photosynthesis C2.1 Chem. Signal. C2.2 Neu. Signal. C3.1 Int. of Body Sys. C3.2 Def. against Dis. C4.1 Pop. & Commu. C4.2 Tran. of En. & Mat. D1.1 DNA Replication D1.2 Protein Syn. D1.3 Mut. & Gene Edit. D2.1 Cell & Nuc. Div. D2.2 Gene Exp. D2.3 Water potential D3.2 Inheritance D3.3 Homeostasis D4.1 Nat. Select. D4.2 Stab. & Change D4.3 Climate Change DIAG Diagnostic Questions