Question

Write a few advantages of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction.

Answer 1

Reproduction:

1. It is a biological process through which an organism produces offspring who are similar to the organism.
2. There are two modes of reproduction asexual and sexual reproduction.

Asexual reproduction:

1. Asexual reproduction refers to a type of reproduction where a new offspring is born to a single parent.
2. The newly created individuals are clones of their parents since they have the same genetic makeup and physical characteristics
3. Single-celled organisms, as well as plants and animals with relatively simple organizational structures, frequently reproduce asexually.
4. Plants can reproduce asexually by spore generation, vegetative propagation, budding, and fragmentation.
5. Animals can procreate asexually through parthenogenesis, budding, fission, or fragmentation.

Sexual reproduction:

1. Sexual reproduction refers to the type of reproduction where both parents are required for the fusion of male and female gametes to form zygotes and then offspring.
2. The offsprings produced are not genetically similar to the parents or to one another due to the fusion of male and female gametes.
3. Compared to asexual reproduction, it is a more extensive, complex, and lengthy process.
4. Example - Humans, frogs, cats, dogs, and flowering plants.

Advantages of sexual reproduction:

1. Sexual reproduction creates diversity in genetic makeup.
2. In sexual reproduction both parents are involved hence offspring get attributes of both parents.
3. Organisms produced by sexual reproduction have a greater survival rate as compared to asexual reproduction as organisms have variation which is adapted to various environments.
4. They are less likely to be affected by various diseases.