Topic 6 - More On Repriduction

Question 1

Why is variation useful?

Answer 1

Variation increases the chance of a species surviving a change in the environment. While it would kill some individuals variation will lead to some offspring being able to survive it. Survival advantage

Question 2

How does natural selection work?

Answer 2

Because individuals with better characteristics that make them better adapted to an envrionemement have a better chance of survival they are more likely to breed successfully and pass genes on.

Question 3

What does selective breeding allow for?

Answer 3

Selective breeding allows us to speed up natural selection and produce animals with desirable characteristics

Question 4

What are some advantages of asexual reproduction?

Answer 4

• Only one parent is needed
• So it uses less energy than sexual as no mate must be found
• It also makes it faster
• Many identical offspring can be produced in favourable conditions

Question 5

How do fungi reproduce asexually and sexually?

Answer 5

Some species of fungi release spores which can become new fungi when they land in a suitable place. These can be produced sexually or asexually. They are produced sexually in respone to an unfavourable change in the environment to introduce variation

Question 6

How do strawberries reproduce asexually?

Answer 6

Strawberry plants produce runners which are stems that grow horizontally an the surface of the soil away from the plant. At various points along them new identical strawberry plants will form

Question 7

How can bulbs be used to reproduce asexually by plants?

Answer 7

New Bulbs can form from the main bulb and divide off, each growing into a new identical plant

Question 8

Malaria

Answer 8

Sexual + asexual