Lesson 3: Advantages/ disadvantages assexual and sexual reproduction

Question 1

What are the 3 advantages of sexual reproduction?

Answer 1

1.) Produces variation in offspring.
2.) If the environment changes variation gives a survival advantage by natural
selection.
3.) Natural selection can be sped up by humans in selective breeding to
increase food production.

Question 2

What are the 4 advantages of asexual reproduction?

Answer 2

1.) Only one parent needed.
2.) More time and energy efficient as do not need to find a mate.
3.) Faster than sexual reproduction
4.) Many identical offspring can be produced when conditions are favourable.

Question 3

True or False…

An organism can either reproduce by sexual/ assexual reproduction - never both.

Answer 3

• False.
• Some organisms reproduce by both methods depending on the circumstances.

Question 4

Give 3 examples of organisms that reproduce by assexual/ sexual reproduction and WHEN they reproduce by each of these methods.

Answer 4

1.) Malarial parasites reproduce asexually in the human host, but sexually in the mosquito.
2.) Many fungi reproduce asexually by spores but also reproduce sexually to
give variation.
3.) Many plants produce seeds sexually, but also reproduce asexually by runners such as strawberry plants, or bulb division such as daffodils.