Question

Scientists studied reproduction in the New Zealand mud snail to answer the question, “Are there benefits to reproducing sexually or asexually?” Which of these hypotheses would least likely aid the scientists as they worked to answer the question? Sexual reproduction is advantageous over asexual reproduction because it reduces the rate of mutation accumulation.Asexual reproduction is advantageous over sexual reproduction because it allows the snails to produce more offspring. Sexual reproduction is advantageous over asexual reproduction because it allows for snails to have increased genetic variation. Asexual reproduction is advantageous over sexual reproduction because it decreases the snails’ need for social interaction.

Answer 1

Answer: Sexual reproduction is advantageous over asexual reproduction because it reduces the rate of mutation accumulation.

New Zealand mud snails reproduce through asexual and sexual modes of reproduction. Asexual reproduction allows these organisms to reproduce more number of offsprings. Asexual reproduction advantageous as these organisms faces natural disaster conditions like tide, drought results in the decrease in the population. Therefore, does not get mate to undergo sexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction in these snails results in genetic variation in offsprings. Sexual reproduction results in increase in mutation rate in the genetic material being passed to offsprings because of resorting of genetic material being distributed from parent to offspring. This will result in genetic variations. Hence, parent will be different from offsprings.  In asexual reproduction offsprings are the clones of parents as there is no resorting of genetic material takes place.