Asexual And Sexual Reproduction

Question 1

Why are organisms produced by asexual reproduction referred to as clones?

Answer 1

Because the offspring is genetically identical except to the parent

Question 2

List why asexual reproduction is an advantage for some organisms

Answer 2

• no mate required
• rapid increase in population
• in case of emergency

Question 3

How could asexual reproduction be disadvantageous?

Answer 3

• no diversity
• prone to extinction
• cannot adapt

Question 4

What environments are organisms that reproduce asexually likely to be found?

Answer 4

Natural environments

Question 5

Define cloning

Answer 5

Making an identical copy of

Question 6

Advantages and disadvantages of using cloning in agriculture…

Answer 6

Advantages

• All the new plants are genetically identical – they will all have the desired characteristics.
• Organisms that are difficult or slow to breed normally can be reproduced quickly. Some plant varieties do not produce seeds, others have seeds that are dormant for long periods.

Disadvantages

• If a clone is susceptible to disease or changes in environment, then all the clones will be susceptible.
• It will lead to less variation, and less opportunity to create new varieties in the future.

Question 7

Difference between gametes and normal body (somatic) cells

Answer 7

Gametes are sex cells, so the egg and sperm. They are considered haploid because each gamete contains half the number of chromosomes that an organism’s somatic cells will have.

Question 8

Why is the crossing over in meiosis biologically important?

Answer 8

Crossing over in meiosis results in genetic recombination, which is responsible for the genetic diversity of a population

Question 9

What happens in each of the two stages of meiosis?

Answer 9

Meiosis 1- in meiosis I, chromosomes in a diploid cell resegregate, producing four haploid daughter cells. It is this step in meiosis that generates genetic diversity. DNA replication precedes the start of meiosis I.

Meiosis 2- Meiosis II is similar to mitosis. However, there is no “S” phase. The chromatids of each chromosome are no longer identical because of recombination. Meiosis II separates the chromatids producing two daughter cells each with 23 chromosomes (haploid), and each chromosome has only one chromatid

Question 10

how can sexual reproduction be advantageous to a species living in a changing environment?

Answer 10

Adaption to the environment is able to take place if asexual reproduction is used

Question 11

Explain the benefit of producing spores

Answer 11

can give “birth” when ready