Reproduction. a characteristic of living organisms is the
process of producing offsprings. possessing features
similar to those of parents. In multicellular organisms,
the mode of reproduction is generally sexual, which
involves fusion of two kinds of gametes to form an
offspring. Some living organisms also reproduce by
asexual means.
Some examples of organisms arc given below
(i) Fungi multiply and spread very fast by producing
millions of asexual spores. Some fungi, the
filamentous algae and the protonema of
multiply by fragmentation.
(ii) In yeast and Hydra, budding occurs to produce
new organisms, whereas, in Planaria (flatworm),
true regeneration of fragmented body parts
occurs. These parts in turn grow as a new
organism.
(iii) Unicellular organisms like bacteria, algae and
Amoeba reproduce by increasing the number of
cells, i.e., through cell division (growth is
synchronised with reproduction).
Some organisms like mules, sterile worker bees, infertile
human couples, etc., do not reproduce. Hence,
reproduction also cannot be an all-inclusive defining
characteristic of living organisms. However, it is an
important differentiating characteristic of living
orgasnisms from non-living things as the latter do not
reproduce.