A mother cat is a calico, with orange, black, and white fur. She has three kittens—an orange female, a black and orange female, and a black female. Did she reproduce sexually or asexually? Choose the option that has the best evidence to support your choice.(1 point)

Question

Responses

Sexually, because cats are multicellular, and multicellular organisms typically reproduce sexually.
Sexually, because cats are multicellular, and multicellular organisms typically reproduce sexually.

Sexually, because each kitten looks different than the mother, which is a sign of genetic variation due to sexual reproduction.
Sexually, because each kitten looks different than the mother, which is a sign of genetic variation due to sexual reproduction.

Asexually, because all of her kittens are females like her, which occurs with asexual reproduction.
Asexually, because all of her kittens are females like her, which occurs with asexual reproduction.

Asexually, because all of her kittens have the same colors …

Answer 1

The best evidence to support the choice of sexual reproduction is:

Sexually, because each kitten looks different than the mother, which is a sign of genetic variation due to sexual reproduction.

This option highlights the significance of genetic variation, which is a hallmark of sexual reproduction. The fact that the kittens have different colors and patterns than the mother suggests that they have genetic material from both parents, which is typical in sexually reproducing species. Asexual reproduction typically results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent, so the variation seen in the kittens supports the conclusion of sexual reproduction.