Pro/Con of sexual and asexual reproduction

• Which organisms reproduce by sexual reproduction?

  Mammals and flowering plants
• Which organisms can reproduce by asexual reproduction?

  Aphids and certain plants
• What are the advantages of sexual reproduction?

  • Produces genetic variation
  • Increases survival chance in changing environments
  • Provides a survival advantage through natural selection
• What are the disadvantages of sexual reproduction?

  • Requires two parents
  • Slower process than asexual reproduction
  • More energy and time-consuming
• What are the advantages of asexual reproduction?

  • Only one parent needed
  • More efficient in time and energy
  • Faster reproduction rate
• What are the disadvantages of asexual reproduction?

  • Offspring are genetically identical
  • Risk of total loss if conditions change
  • Less variation in offspring
• How does sexual reproduction benefit a species during environmental changes?

  It produces variation that aids survival
• Why is asexual reproduction faster than sexual reproduction?

  It requires only one parent
• When is asexual reproduction particularly useful for organisms?

  When conditions are favorable
• What happens to offspring produced by asexual reproduction if conditions become unfavorable?

  All offspring may die due to identical genetics
• Which organisms can reproduce by both sexual and asexual methods?

  • Malaria parasite: asexually in humans, sexually in mosquitoes
  • Many species of fungi: produce spores asexually and sexually
  • Flowering plants: reproduce sexually through seeds and asexually through runners
• How does the malaria parasite reproduce in humans?

  Asexually
• How does the malaria parasite reproduce in mosquitoes?

  Sexually
• How do many species of fungi reproduce asexually?

  By producing spores
• What is a method of asexual reproduction in strawberry plants?

  Sending out runners
• How do daffodils reproduce asexually?

  By bulb division
• What is the outcome of asexual reproduction in terms of offspring genetics?

  • Offspring are genetically identical to the parent
• What is the significance of genetic variation in sexual reproduction?

  • Provides adaptability to environmental changes
  • Enhances survival through natural selection