Answer :
Sexual reproduction involves two parents who provide specialized gametes that combine during fertilization, leading to genetically unique offspring with shared traits from both parents.
Sexual Reproduction and Genetic Inheritance
When we consider sexual reproduction, it involves two parents contributing specialized cells called gametes—sperm and egg cells. During fertilization, these gametes combine to form a diploid zygote. This zygote will develop into an offspring that inherits genetic material from both parents, thus displaying a mix of their characteristics. Offspring appear to be a "blend" of parent traits, especially when viewing characteristics that exhibit continuous variation. Each parent provides one allele for every gene, and these alleles can be either the same (homozygous) or different (heterozygous), leading to varying traits in the offspring.
Moreover, sexual reproduction ensures genetic diversity. The process of meiosis produces haploid gametes, carrying half the number of chromosomes. Once fertilization occurs, the resulting zygote restores the full chromosomal number and, thus, contains a unique set of genetic instructions. This is why siblings, apart from identical twins, will resemble but not exactly replicate the appearance or characteristics of their parents or each other.
In summary, sexual reproduction requires two parents and results in offspring that are genetically unique, sharing traits from both the mother and the father while also having distinct individual characteristics.
