6.1.3 - Advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction

Question 1

3 advantages of sexual reproduction

Answer 1

• produces variation in offspring
• if the environment changes variation gives a survival advantage by natural selection
• natural selection can be sped up by humans in selective breeding to increase food production

Question 2

4 advantages of asexual reproduction

Answer 2

• only one parent needed
• more time and energy efficient as do not need to find a mate
• faster than sexual reproduction
• many identical offspring can be produced when conditions are favourable

Question 3

Give 3 examples of organisms that reproduce both sexually and asexually depending on the circumstances

Answer 3

1. Malarial parasites produce asexually in the human host, but sexually in the mosquito
2. Many fungi reproduce asexually by spores but also reproduce sexually to give variation
3. Many plants produce seeds sexually, but also reproduce asexually by runners such as strawberry plants, or bulb division such as daffodils.