IGCSE Biology: Reproduction Practice Questions
Asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring from one parent. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of the nuclei of two haploid gametes to form a diploid zygote, producing genetically varied offspring.
Topic 16 of Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 covers both plant and human reproduction, and Cambridge draws from both in the same paper. The comparison questions, insect against wind pollination and sperm against egg, are the most reliably repeated. The questions below cover those plus the placenta.
What you need to know for Reproduction
- Sexual reproductionThe process involving the fusion of the nuclei of two gametes to form a zygote and the production of offspring that are genetically different from each other.
- Asexual reproductionThe process resulting in the production of genetically identical offspring from one parent. It is fast and needs no mate, but gives no variation, so the whole population is vulnerable to the same disease or change.
- Insect pollinated flowersBrightly coloured petals, scent, nectar, sticky pollen in small quantities, and anthers and stigma inside the flower where insects brush against them.
- Wind pollinated flowersSmall dull petals, no scent or nectar, large amounts of light smooth pollen, and anthers and feathery stigmas hanging outside the flower to catch the wind.
- Gamete adaptationsThe sperm is small, has a tail for swimming and many mitochondria for energy, and carries enzymes in its head to digest the egg membrane. The egg is much larger and contains food stores for the zygote.
- PlacentaAn organ where the maternal and fetal blood supplies come very close but do not mix. Oxygen, glucose and amino acids pass to the fetus, while carbon dioxide and urea pass to the mother.
IGCSE Biology Reproduction questions and answers
4 exam-style questions written to the 0610 syllabus. Try each one on paper first, then open the worked answer to check your method against the marks.
Compare an insect pollinated flower with a wind pollinated flower. Give three differences.
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- Difference 1, petals: insect pollinated flowers have large brightly coloured petals to attract insects. Wind pollinated flowers have small dull green petals, or none.
- Difference 2, pollen: insect pollinated flowers produce small quantities of sticky or spiky pollen that clings to insects. Wind pollinated flowers produce very large quantities of small, light, smooth pollen that is easily blown.
- Difference 3, position of anthers and stigma: in insect pollinated flowers they are inside the flower so the insect brushes against them. In wind pollinated flowers the anthers hang outside and the stigma is large and feathery to catch pollen from the air.
- A further difference: insect pollinated flowers produce nectar and scent, wind pollinated flowers do not.
Describe two ways in which a sperm cell is adapted to its function, and one way in which an egg cell is adapted to its function.
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- Sperm adaptation 1: it has a tail, or flagellum, that moves from side to side so the sperm can swim to the egg through the oviduct.
- Sperm adaptation 2: it contains many mitochondria in the middle section, which release energy by respiration to power the movement of the tail. It also carries enzymes in the acrosome to digest the egg membrane.
- Egg adaptation: it is much larger and contains a store of food, usually described as yolk or energy stores, which nourishes the zygote until it implants and can receive nutrients from the mother.
- The egg membrane also changes immediately after fertilisation so that no further sperm can enter.
Explain how the placenta allows the fetus to obtain oxygen and nutrients while the two blood supplies remain separate.
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- The placenta contains many villi that project into the wall of the uterus, giving a very large surface area.
- The barrier between maternal and fetal blood is very thin, so the diffusion distance is short.
- Oxygen, glucose, amino acids and antibodies diffuse from the mother's blood into the fetal blood down concentration gradients.
- Carbon dioxide and urea diffuse in the opposite direction, from the fetal blood into the mother's blood, to be excreted by her lungs and kidneys.
- The two blood supplies stay separate so that the mother's much higher blood pressure does not damage the delicate fetal vessels, and so that maternal blood cells and many pathogens cannot cross.
State one advantage and one disadvantage of asexual reproduction for a plant.
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- Advantage: only one parent is needed, so no pollination or fertilisation is required and reproduction can happen quickly whenever conditions are suitable.
- This allows a well adapted plant to colonise a favourable habitat rapidly, and all offspring inherit the successful characteristics.
- Disadvantage: all offspring are genetically identical, so there is no variation.
- If the environment changes, or a new disease appears, every plant in the population is equally vulnerable and the whole population may be lost.
Common mistakes in this topic
- Confusing pollination with fertilisation. Pollination is the transfer of pollen. Fertilisation is the fusion of nuclei.
- Writing that maternal and fetal blood mix in the placenta.
- Saying gametes are diploid. Gametes are haploid, and the zygote formed is diploid.
- Describing asexual offspring as similar rather than genetically identical.
- Naming the ovary as the site of fertilisation in humans. Fertilisation happens in the oviduct.
Exam tips
- Learn insect versus wind pollination as a five row table. Almost every version of the question comes straight from it.
- For gamete adaptations, always pair the structure with the function.
- Use the words haploid, diploid and zygote precisely. Marks are given for the terminology.
- In placenta questions, name at least two substances in each direction.
- Germination requires water, oxygen and a suitable temperature. Light is not required for germination itself.
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Reproduction FAQs
What is the difference between pollination and fertilisation?
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma. Fertilisation is the fusion of the nucleus of a male gamete from the pollen grain with the nucleus of the female gamete in the ovule. Pollination happens first, and fertilisation follows once the pollen tube has grown down to the ovule.
Do the mother's and baby's blood mix in the placenta?
No. The two circulations come very close but stay completely separate. Substances cross between them by diffusion through a thin barrier with a large surface area provided by villi. Keeping them separate protects the fetal vessels from the mother's higher blood pressure and blocks many pathogens.
What are the advantages of sexual reproduction?
Sexual reproduction produces genetic variation among offspring, because gametes from two parents combine. Variation means that if the environment changes or a new disease appears, some individuals are likely to have characteristics that let them survive, so the population as a whole is more resilient.
What conditions are needed for a seed to germinate?
Water, oxygen and a suitable temperature. Water activates enzymes and mobilises food stores, oxygen is needed for aerobic respiration to release energy, and a suitable temperature allows the enzymes to work at a reasonable rate. Light is not required for germination itself.
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Written to the published Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) syllabus. Check your school entry code and syllabus year, because Core and Extended candidates are assessed on different content. Last reviewed 2026-08-12.