In: Biology
Most of the organisms considered to be “more advanced” from an evolutionary standpoint, reproduce sexually. This indicates there are advantages in sexual reproduction. What do you think the advantages are of sexual reproduction compared to asexual reproduction? Why do you think evolution favored sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction?
Sexual reproduction is considered more advanced and useful from evolutionary aspect than asexual reproduction.
Sexual reproduction involves meiosis which produces variations because meiosis involves two genetic phenomenon viz crossing over and independent assortment of chromosmes hence genes. In crossing over there occurs reshuffling of genes between maternal and paternal chromosomes. This leads to production of new combination of alleles. Some paternal genes goes to maternal chromosome and vice versa. This leads to new combination of genes which produce variations.
Independent assortment allows maternal and paternal chromosomes to align independently of each other which also produces variations.
These variations are passed into offsprings and offsprings with variations are more sucessful to deal with environmental challenges and more capable to evolve and change according to the needs. Thus evolution favours organisms with sexual reproduction.