Meiosis

• Sexual reproduction uses the process of meiosis, which creates gametes. The process of meiosis happens in the male and female reproductive organs. As a cell divides to form gametes:

  • copies of the genetic information is made
  • the cell divides twice to form four gametes, each with a single set of chromosomes (haploid)
  • all gametes are genetically different from each other
• The advantages of sexual reproduction:

  • Produces variation in the offspring
  • The species can adapt to new environments due to variation, which gives them a survival advantage
  • A disease is less likely to affect all the individuals in a population
  • Humans can speed up natural selection through selective breeding, which can increase food production
• The disadvantages of sexual reproduction:

  • time and energy are needed to find a mate
  • it is not possible for an isolated individual
• Four disadvantages of sexual reproduction are:

  • It takes time and effort to find a mate.
  • Fewer offspring are produced.
  • Reproduction is not always successful.
  • Favorable genes may not be passed down to the offspring.