4.6.1.3 advantages and disadvantages of sexual and asexual reproduction (SINGLE)

Question 1

advantages of sexual reproduction?

Answer 1

• produces variation in the 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

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

reproduction in malarial parasites?

Answer 3

• reproduce ASEXUALLY in the human host
• reproduce SEXUALLY in the mosquito

Question 4

reproduction in many fungi?

Answer 4

• reproduce ASEXUALLY by spores
• reproduce SEXUALLY to give variation

Question 5

reproduction in many plants?

Answer 5

• reproduce SEXUALLY by seeds
• reproduce ASEXUALLY by runners, e.g. strawberry plants, bulb division (e.g. daffodils)