Asexual Reproduction
Reproduction and development are necessary for the continuation of any species.  Asexual reproduction is a method of reproduction with all the genetic information coming from one parent.

Some Methods of Asexual Reproduction
1.  binary fission -- involves an equal division of both the organism cytoplasm and nucleus to form two identical organisms -- the diagram of the protist at the right is example of this
2.  budding -- involves one parent dividing its nucleus (genetic material) equally, but cytoplasm unequally -- the diagram of a yeast at the right is an example of this
3.  sporulation (spore formation) -- is reproduction involving specialized single cells coming from one parent -- the diagram of mold spores being formed at the right is an example of this

Asexual reproduction is sometimes called cloning.   Cloning is the production of identical genetic copies.   All forms of asexual reproduction are variations of the cell division process of mitosis. Mitosis is associated with asexual reproduction, as well as growth and repair in sexually reproducing organisms.

Mitosis
Mitosis is the method used for cell division and reproduction in cells not involved in sexual reproduction.    This process starts with one replication (copying of the chromosome material) and one division of the chromosome material.   This results in the chromosome numbers in the two cells produced being the same as in the parent cell.   This process is represented in the graphic which follows.

An Overview of the Process of Mitosis

2 Key Results of Mitosis

1. The same chromosome number is retained from generation to generation.
2. Each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the chromosomes of the parent cell.  (clones)