Question

Which of the following is a true statement about sexual vs. asexual reproduction? A. Asexual reproduction, but not sexual reproduction, is characteristic of plants and fungi. B. In sexual reproduction, individuals transmit half of their nuclear genes to each of their offspring. C. In asexual reproduction, offspring are produced by fertilization without meiosis. D. Asexual reproduction produces only haploid offspring.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: B. In sexual reproduction, individuals transmit half of their nuclear genes to each of their offspring.

The main difference between sexual and asexual reproduction is that in sexual reproduction genetic material from two parents is combined, while in asexual reproduction produced offspring is genetically identical to the one parent. So, advantage of sexual reproduction is that produced unique organisms contribute to genetic diversity (variation is formed). But, comparing to asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction requires more energy and lasts longer.

Asexual reproduction is found in lower organisms and can be in different forms: budding, vegetative reproduction, fragmentation, spore formation.