Living things use many strategies for producing offspring, but most strategies fall neatly into the categories of either sexual or asexual
reproduction. Asexual reproduction involves a single parent. It results in offspring that are genetically identical to each other and to
the parent. All prokaryotes and some eukaryotes reproduce this way. Sexual reproduction involves two parents. During sexual
reproduction, parents produce reproductive cells, called gametes, that unite to form an offspring. Gametes are haploid cells. This
means they contain only half the number of chromosomes found in other cells of the organism. The chromosomes sort randomly
during the process of meiosis, each gamete receiving half the chromosomes from each parent. Gametes are united during the process
of fertilization.
Either type of reproduction will result in the continuation of a species, but one method results in genetic variation as well. Which of these
is NOT a reason why sexual reproduction better serves survival of the fittest and evolution of a species.
Random assortment of chromosomes increases genetic variation. An organisms may
get traits that aid in survival.
Sexual reproduction increases
the likelihood that a mutation
might take place in an
organism's DNA.
Sexual reproduction may reduce
the chances of inheriting a
genetically inherited disease of
condition
D)
Genetic variation may aid in removing undesirable traits or weakness from a
population and therefore aids in natural selection.