Question

Asexual reproduction is quick and efficient because it does not require organisms to find a mate. However, asexual reproduction makes a population vulnerable to diseases and environmental changes. Since all offspring have the same DNA, an environmental pressure that negatively affects one organism is likely to harm the entire population.


On the other hand, most complex organisms, including many plants and animals, reproduce sexually. In sexual reproduction, there are two parents, each with reproductive cells called gametes. Each gamete contains half of the parent’s DNA, randomly assorted so that no two gametes are alike.


A diagram showing sexual reproduction. Two parents, one with a yellow and red circle and another with a light green and dark green triangle, produce unique gametes. Gametes combine to form offspring with different combinations of circles and triangles.


When a gamete from one parent joins a gamete from the other, the result is a unique combination of both parents’ DNA. Because of this, offspring of sexual reproduction have genetic variation, or differences in their DNA. This makes a population more adaptable to environmental changes.


However, since sexual reproduction involves two parents, it requires more time and energy than asexual reproduction. Compare bears and bacteria, for example. Bears take almost two years to produce offspring, while some kinds of bacteria divide every 20 minutes!

3
According to the text, how are sexual and asexual reproduction similar?


A
They both result in the production of offspring

B
They require similar amounts of time and energy

C
They both create offspring very little genetic variation

D
They both involve reproductive cells calle

Answer 1

A

Both sexual and asexual reproduction produce offspring. The other choices are incorrect: B is false (sexual takes more time/energy), C is false (sexual creates genetic variation), and D is false (only sexual reproduction uses gametes).