New News Biology #53

Pros & Cons of Sexual and Asexual Reproduction

Organisms can reproduce in two ways:

Sexual reproduction - fusion of two gametes

Asexual reproduction - mitosis, identical clone of the parent organism.

Asexual reproduction:

Benefits

only one parent needed.

Process is very quick

Can populate the area within a couple of days - quick colonization

It can even happen with some plants.

Downside

All the offspring are clones - no genetic variation

One disease could wipe out the whole population in one go

Less chance of adapting to new conditions - like changes in climate, a new competitor, etc

Sexual reproduction:

Benefits

Loads of genetic variation

Short term: Less likely to be wiped out in a single event

Long term: adapt to changing conditions - evolution is allowed to take place

Downside:

A lot more time and energy than asexual reproduction

Find a mate and impress them - e.g. the peacock’s beautiful feathers don’t help them survive at all, but they still have them in order to impress a mate.