Inheritance - advantages and disadvantages of sexual/asexual reproduction

Question 1

advantages of sexual reproduction

Answer 1

• gives a species survival advantage by natural selection
• gives species a greater chance of survival if conditions become too challenging
• humans use this in selective breeding (eg wheat. they choose strains that produce high yield of good quality grain)

Question 2

asexual reproduction advantages

Answer 2

• only one parent needed
• more efficient in time and energy
• faster
• extremely useful when conditions are favourable
• many genetically identical offspring quickly

Question 3

disadvantage of asexual reproduction

Answer 3

• risky as offspring are genetically identical so risk they could all die if conditions become unfavourable

Question 4

what can some organisms use?

Answer 4

sexual and asexual reproduction depending on circumstances

Question 5

how does malaria parasite reproduce in a human? and how does it reproduce inside mosquito?

Answer 5

asexually in human but in mosquito malaria parasite uses sexual reproduction

Question 6

how do many species of fungi reproduce?

Answer 6

asexually by producing spores but can produce sexually producing variation in offspring

Question 7

how do all flowering plants reproduce?

Answer 7

sexually to produce seeds but some can reproduce asexually (eg strawberry by sending out runners. when runner touches soil it can develop into a new plant genetically identical to the parent)

Question 8

how do daffodils reproduce asexually?

Answer 8

by bulb division. parent plant has underground bulb producing buds that eventually form new offspring plants which are genetically identical to the parent