Sexual and asexual are terms that primarily refer to an individual’s sexuality or lack thereof. Sexuality mainly focuses on how a person experiences and expresses themselves in sexual situations. Asexuality, on the other hand, is primarily characterized by a lack of interest in anything related to sex.
Sexual
Sexual is defined as anything related to or involving sex and the reproduction of an organism through the union of male and female. This encompasses sexual orientation and activities, including the choice of partners a person is attracted to, such as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. Sexual reproduction is defined by the need for the union of male and female sex organs.
Asexual
Asexual is defined as having no interest in sex or having no apparent sex organs while still being capable of reproduction. Some individuals have no desire or interest in sex, which is different from abstaining from sex and celibacy, as they are behavioral choices, while asexuality is more of a long-term sexual orientation. In terms of the second definition, asexual reproduction is a method employed by some organisms to reproduce through processes such as binary fission or budding.
Key Takeaways
- Sexual refers to anything related to or involving sex, including sexual orientation, activities, and reproduction through the union of male and female sex organs.
- Asexual can refer to a lack of interest in sex or the ability of certain organisms to reproduce without physical sex organs.
- Sexual and asexual reproduction are the two ways an organism can reproduce; the former requires sex organs, while the latter does not.
