Practice Questions

1.Give two advantages of asexual reproduction

Any two from :

Only one parent needed

Faster reproduction

Many genetically
identical offspring can be produced when conditions are favourable. This allows an organism to colonise a new habitat.

More time and energy efficient as do not need to find a mate

2.Give two advantages of sexual reproduction.

Source of genetic variation

If the environment changes, variation in the population means some individuals have traits that give them a survival advantage. These individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce, which is natural selection.

Natural selection can be speeded up by humans in selective breeding to increase food production. This means humans can use the principles of natural selection to get useful traits faster.

3.A population of bacteria reproduces asexually. Explain why this is an advantage in a stable environment.

Asexual reproduction is fast, so many bacteria can be produced quickly.
Because the environment is stable, the offspring are well adapted, so being identical is not a disadvantage.