Question

The possibilities of hereditary and evolutionary changes are greatest in species, which are reproduced by

• A. Fission
• B. Budding
• C. Asexual means
• D. Sexual means

Answer 1

The correct option is D Sexual means

In asexual organisms, genes are inherited together, or linked, as they cannot mix with genes of other organisms during reproduction. In contrast, the offspring of sexual organisms contain random mixtures of their parent's chromosomes that are produced through independent assortment. In a related process called as homologous recombination, sexual organisms exchange DNA between two matching chromosomes. Recombination and reassortment do not alter allele frequencies, but instead change which alleles are associated with each other, producing offspring with new combinations of alleles. Sex usually increases genetic variation and may increase the rate of evolution. The Red Queen hypothesis has been used to explain the significance of sexual reproduction as a means to enable continual evolution and adaptation in response to coevolution with other species in an ever changing environment. So, the possibilities of hereditary and evolutionary changes are greatest in species which are reproduced by sexual means and not by asexual means, fission and budding as they do not involve in exchange of DNA.