genetics ## sexual and asexual reproduction

Question 1

Describe features of asexual reproduction

Answer 1

rapid reproductive cycle
no need for mate (single parent)
no variation of offspring

Question 2

Advantages of asexual reproduction

Answer 2

• the population can increase rapidly when the conditions are favourable
• only one parent is needed.
• it is more time and energy efficient as you don’t need a mate.
• it is faster than sexual reproduction.

Question 3

Disadvantages of asexual reproduction

Answer 3

• it does not lead to genetic variation in a population.
• the species may only be suited to one habitat.
• disease may affect all the individuals in a population.

Question 4

Describe features of sexual reproduction

Answer 4

Sexual reproduction involves the joining of two sex cells, or gametes during fertilisation . Organisms produced by sexual reproduction have two parents and are genetically similar to both but not identical to either. it produces variation in the offspring.

Question 5

Advantages of sexual reproduction

Answer 5

produces genetic variation in the offspring.
the species can adapt to new environments due to variation, which gives them a survival advantage.
a disease is less likely to affect all the individuals in a population

Question 6

Disadvantages of sexual reproduction

Answer 6

• time and energy are needed to find a mate.

- it is not possible for an isolated individual to reproduce

Question 7

How are gametes produced

Answer 7

through meiosis

Question 8

Describe meiosis

Answer 8

Meiosis is the type of cell division that produces gametes . It’s a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information

Question 9

Explain why haploid gametes are needed for

sexual reproduction

Answer 9

It is important that meiosis produces haploid gametes, rather than diploid gametes because it takes two gametes—one from each parent—to create a single offspring. These two gametes come together to form a single, diploid cell, called a zygote

Question 10

Recall what an organism’s genome is

Answer 10

The genome is the entire genetic material of an organism. It is found in the nucleus of a cell, and is composed of a chemical called DNA

Question 11

Describe where genes are found

Answer 11

In chromosomes, in cells

Question 12

Recall the function of genes

Answer 12

A gene is a small section of DNA on a chromosome, that codes for a particular sequence of amino acids , to make a specific protein . It is the unit of heredity , and may be copied and passed on to the next generation