Biology Questions PLS HELP!!

Question

Discuss the differences in how genetic material is transferred between sexual and asexual reproduction. Identify and explain which type of reproduction results in offspring with greater genetic variation.

Answer 1

In asexual reproduction, you are essentially producing clones of the parent. There is no genetic variation between parent and offspring - think of mitosis.

In sexual reproduction, you have several chances for genetic variation. The first occurs in meiosis 1, when homologous pairs line up and crossing over occurs. Then in meiosis 2, different combinations of chromosomes (some from mother, some from father) could end up in the gamete cells. Finally, when the gametes (egg and sperm/spore) come together in fertilization, that represents a brand new combination of chromosomes, and therefore alleles, than either of the parents had.

Answer 2

Hi Soma,

Asexual reproduction involves only one parent whereas sexual reproduction involves two organisms.Since sexual reproduction involves two organisms combining their genes to produce offspring, it makes sense that the offspring would have more genetic variation than asexual offspring.

Answer 3

The "A" in Asexual means "not" just like "amoral" means not moral and "asymptomatic " means " no symptoms.

Short Answer:

In asexual reproduction every "child" is a "clone" of ONE parent. They all have exactly the same DNA.

With sexual reproduction every child contains a mixture of the DNA of two parents. Usually the children are all different.

There is more variability with sexual reproduction

Longer Answer

YOU as a human being are a product of sexual reproduction. As you know even through brothers and sisters are different even though they come from the same parents. Thats because the two parents together contain twice the DNA each child needs, so each child gets a random half from one parent and a random half from the other parent.

A sexual reproduction is reproducing " all by yourself" .... Your neighbors nasty tree can do this by sending out shoots underground into your yard. Strawberries do this by sending out runners. If you cut a starfish in half you end up with two starfish.. Humans don't reproduce this way "yet" but if you could make a clone of yourself that would be Asexual reproduction...

BTW if you buy a houseplant or a rose its probably a clone -- produced by asexual reproduction, Thats how most plants are "propagated" Some guy or gal cuts pieces off a plant and then gets them to grow roots... So your houseplant is probably one of many genetically identical "clones"