2.3 Variation and Sexual Reproduction Flashcards
Costs and benefits of sexual reproduction compared to asexual
- males unable to produce offspring
- genetic variation provides the raw material required for adaptation, so sexually reproducing organisms have better chances of survival under changing selection pressures
- genetic variability of offspring reduces the chances that all will be susceptible to infection by parasites
- only half of each parent’s genome
passed onto offspring, disrupting successful parental genomes
- males unable to produce offspring
- only half of each parent’s genome passed onto offspring, disrupting successful parental genomes
disadvantages of sexual reproduction
costs and benefits of sexual reproduction relationship
benefits outweigh the costs due to an increase in genetic variation of the population
benefit of genetic variation
genetic variation provides the raw material required for adaptation, giving sexually reproducing organisms a better chance of survival under changing selection pressures
what explains the persistence of sexual reproduction
the red queen hypothesis
selecting for sexual reproducing hosts and parasites
- hosts that are better able to resist and tolerate parasitism have greater fitness
- parasites that are better able to feed, reproduce, and find new hosts have greater fitness
- if hosts reproduce sexually, the genetic variability in their offspring reduces the chances that all will be susceptible by parasites
asexual reproduction
one parent can produce daughter cells and establish a colony of virtually unlimited size over time
one parent can produce daughter cells and establish a colony of virtually unlimited size over time
asexual reproduction
costs and benefits of asexual reproduction
- whole genomes are passed on from parent to offspring
- maintaining genome of parent is an advantage in particularly narrow, stable niches or when re-colonising disturbed habitats
- offspring can be reproduced more often and in larger numbers
Example of asexual reproduction in eukaryotes
- Vegetative cloning in plants
- Parthenogenesis in lower plants and animals that lack fertilisation
- Vegetative cloning in plants
- Parthenogenesis in lower plants and animals that lack fertilisation
Examples of asexual reproduction in eukaryotes
Where is parthenogenesis more common
Cooler climates
What climates are disadvantageous to parasites
- Cooler climates
- Regions of low parasite density or diversity
- Cooler climates
- Regions of low parasite density or diversity
Disadvantageous to parasites
Asexual reproducing populations and adaptations
Not able to adapt easily to changes in their environment, but mutations can occur that provide some degree of variation and enable some natural selection and evolution to occur
Not able to adapt easily to changes in their environment, but mutations can occur that provide some degree of variation and enable some natural selection and evolution to occur
Asexually reproducing populations
What organisms often have mechanisms for horizontal gene transfer
Organisms that principally reproduce by asexual reproduction. Eg. Plasmids of bacteria and yeasts
What do organisms that principally reproduce by asexual reproduction. Eg. Plasmids of bacteria and yeasts have
Mechanisms for horizontal gene transfer between individuals
Why do organisms that primarily use asexual reproduction have mechanisms for horizontal gene transfer
Increase variation
Advantage of prokaryotes having horizontal gene transfer
Faster evolutionary change than in organisms than only use vertical transfer
What organisms have faster evolutionary change than in organisms than only use vertical transfer
Prokaryotes, because of horizontal gene transfer
Meiosis
Division of the nucleus that results in the formation of haploid gametes from a diploid gametophyte