Reproduction

Question 1

How is asexual reproduction different from sexual reproduction? (Give three details).

Answer 1

• It does not involve the fusion of gametes.
• It forms identical copies.
• These clones are formed by mitosis.

Question 2

What does sexual reproduction involve?

Answer 2

• The fusion of gametes.
• Mixing of genetic information, causing variation.
• The offspring produced are similar to both parents but are not identical.

Question 3

How is meiosis different to mitosis?

Answer 3

• The cell divides twice.
• The total number of chromosomes in each of the final four gametes will be half the amount in the original.
• It causes variation because the chromosomes crossover, which allows for the passing of genetic information.

Question 4

What are the advantages of asexual reproduction?

Answer 4

• It only requires one parent.
• It is more time and energy efficient.
• It is faster than sexual.
• Identical offspring can have desired genes.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of asexual reproduction?

Answer 5

• No variation (a species can die out).

- All offspring are affected if environmental conditions change.

Question 6

What are the advantages of sexual reproduction?

Answer 6

• Varied offspring.
• Variation gives a survival advantage by natural selection.
• Natural selection can be accelerated in selective breeding.

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of sexual reproduction?

Answer 7

• Two gametes are needed.
• It takes time and energy to find a mate.
• It’s often slower than asexual.

Question 8

How does malaria reproduce both sexually and asexually?

Answer 8

Asexual: in the human host in the liver, and cause RBC’s to burst, leaving debris which clogs the blood.
Sexually: in the mosquito due to a drop in temperature.

Question 9

How do fungi reproduce both sexually and asexually?

Answer 9

Asexually: spores that are produced by mitosis.
Sexually: to give variation in adverse conditions to prevent extinction.

Question 10

How do plants reproduce both sexually and asexually

Answer 10

Sexually: the pollen and ovule (egg) cells are made by meiosis and fuse to form seeds.
Asexually: some plants produce offspring by mitosis, such as runners from strawberry plants and bulbs from daffodils.