Question

Compare and contrast asexual and sexual reproduction: what are the principle advantages and disadvantages of each? Why do nearly all living organisms have some form of sex during their life cycle?

Explain the two sources of genetic diversity that result from meiosis. Why is crossing over (recombination) especially important for the adaptive evolution of a species.

Answer 1

Sexual reproduction	Asexual reproduction
Two parents involved	Only one parent involved
Offsprings are not genetically identical	Offsprings are genetically identical
Binary fission, frgamentation and budding produce new offspring	Joining of two haploid gametes produce new offspring

Sexual reproduction;

Advantages;

- Produces genetic variation in the offspring.

- Species can adapt to new environment due to variation.

Disadvantages;

-Time and energy needed ti find a mate and an isolated individual can not reproduce.

Asexual reproduction;

Advantages;

- Population can increase rapidly. No need of mating.

- It is faster than sexual reproduction.

Disadvantages;

- No genetic variation. They can not adapt to new environment.

# Meiosis reduces the chromosome number into half. Therefore, it confirms the joining of two gametes. Crossing over plays a very important role in genetic variation where two homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material.

This causes the new offspring to be more adaptive to the new environment.