Pros & Cons of Sexual & Asexual Reproduction

• Which type of reproduction allows an organism to colonise a new area most quickly?

  Asexual reproduction
• Which type of reproduction leads to more genetic variation in the population?

  Sexual reproduction 
• How many parents are required for asexual reproduction? 

  1
• Select two downsides of asexual reproduction from the list below.

  • The population would have a smaller chance of adapting to new conditions 
  • Low genetic variation means that offspring are more susceptible to disease 
• Discuss the pros and cons of sexual reproduction. 

  Pro - because gametes fuse it leads to a large amount of variation

  Pro - population is less likely to wiped out by a disease or extreme event 

  Pro - species can adapt to changing conditions by evolution 

  Con - it requires two parents 

  Con - individuals may have have to spend large amounts of time and energy searching for a mate

  Con - many species spend resources impressing their mates even though it doesn't aid survival