Reproduction is an important characteristic of living organisms. It is the process by which an individual produces young ones of its own kind. Reproduction is essential to ensure the continuity of life. Reproduction can be of two kinds.
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- Asexual reproduction which involves only one parent and
- Sexual reproduction which generally involves two parents – a male and a female.
In human beings the male reproductive organs are called testes and female reproductive organs are called ovaries. Males produce tiny sex cells called sperms and females produce bigger cells called ova or eggs. During reproduction egg and sperm unite (fuse) with each other to form a third cell called zygote. The zygote multiplies several times to form an embryo. The embryo later develops into a baby.