Unit 2: Key Area 3 - Variation and sexual reproduction

Question 1

Describe the costs and benefits of sexual reproduction

Answer 1

Costs of sexual reproduction:

• males unable to produce offspring
• only half of each parent’s genome passed onto offspring. Disrupting successful parental genomes

Benefits outweigh costs due to an increase in genetic variation in the population

Question 2

Describe genetic variation

Answer 2

Genetic variation provides the raw material required for adaptation, giving sexually reproducing organisms a better chance of survival under changing selection pressures

Question 3

What does the Red Queen hypothesis explain

Answer 3

The Red Queen hypothesis explains the persistence of sexual reproduction

Question 4

What may co-evolutionary interactions between parasites and hosts

Answer 4

Co-evolutionary interactions between parasites and hosts may select for sexually reproducing hosts