A student claims that a population that reproduces asexually will be better able to survive in an environment in which a disease has been introduced. Which statement best evaluates the student's claim?

Question

A.
The student's claim is incorrect because the population would be genetically identical, increasing the vulnerability to the disease.

B.
The student's claim is incorrect because the population would grow too slowly to replace organisms that have died from the disease.

C.
The student's claim is correct because the population would be genetically diverse, allowing many of the organisms to avoid being affected by the disease.

D.
The student's claim is correct because the population size would be very large, allowing a larger percentage of organisms to establish immunity against the disease.

Answer 1

The best evaluation of the student's claim is:

A. The student's claim is incorrect because the population would be genetically identical, increasing the vulnerability to the disease.

This is because asexual reproduction results in offspring that are clones of the parent, leading to a lack of genetic diversity in the population. In the face of a disease, if all individuals are genetically identical, they are likely to be equally susceptible to the disease, making the whole population vulnerable. Genetic diversity, typically found in sexually reproducing populations, allows for some individuals to have resistance to diseases, improving overall survival chances.