The Biology of Reproduction

Reproduction is a fundamental feature of life it is the way life persists across the ages. This book offers new wider vistas on this fundamental biological phenomenon exploring how it works through the whole tree of life. It explores facets such as asexual reproduction parthenogenesis sex determination and reproductive investment with a taxonomic coverage extended over all the main groups - animals plants including algae fungi protists and bacteria. It collates into one volume perspectives from varied disciplines - including zoology botany microbiology genetics cell biology developmental biology evolutionary biology animal and plant physiology and ethology - integrating information into a common language. Crucially the book aims to identify the commonalties among reproductive phenomena while demonstrating the diversity even amongst closely related taxa. Its integrated approach makes this a valuable reference book for students and researchers as well as an effective entry point for deeper study on specific topics.