Question

List two advantages of sexual reproduction: ______________________________________________________
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List two disadvantages of sexual reproduction: ___________________________________________________
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Answer 1

ADVANTAGE 1

1. Diversity-

In asexual reproduction, if the DNA replication does not mutate it produces a daughter cell exactly the same as the mother cell

Sexual reproduction provides diversity because
A. you receive a genetic material from both a mother and father and have at least two alleles for most genetic traits

B. In addition chiasmata in the chromosomes cross over at certain points and add to the diversity

ADVANTAGE 2

2. Homestasis/Stability due to Better cell controls/less mutations

Higher species that reproduce sexually have more complex controls in their cell cycle and have less mutations and less defects from reproduction. The rate of mutation in humans via sexual reproduction is much lower than for viruses and bacteria that reproduce only asexually. This means the human species is more stable with respect to genetic mutations.

DISADVANTAGE 1

1. Reproductive Disadvantage

Sexual reproduction in humans and most mammalian species takes several months to produce 1,2 or maybe 3 offspring. Bacteria and viruses can reproduce entire colonies of millions of offspring in several hours in the lab or in a host.

DISADVANTAGE 2

2. Adaption

lower species rely on mutation as the main form of diversification and adaption. It must also be pointed out that species such as viruses and some bacteria that produce only asexually have an advantage in adaption in environment For example, antibiotic resistant bacteria and HIV viruses that mutate when patients do not take a combination of drugs