Answer :
Final answer:
Sexual reproduction involves two parents who produce haploid gametes through meiosis. The advantages of sexual reproduction include genetic variation and diversity. Some plants and animals can reproduce both sexually and asexually.
Explanation:
Sexual reproduction involves two parents who produce haploid gametes through meiosis. The male parent produces sperm, while the female parent produces eggs. Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half, resulting in the formation of haploid gamete cells. Meiosis goes through multiple stages and is required to produce sperm and egg cells for sexual reproduction.
In sexual reproduction, mitosis produces two diploid cells that are identical to the parents. In contrast, meiosis produces four haploid cells that contain some characteristics of the parent cell but are not identical. The fusion of a sperm and an egg occurs during fertilization. Each gamete contains one set of chromosomes, and they fuse to form a zygote with two sets of chromosomes.
The advantages of sexual reproduction include genetic variation in offspring, which allows for adaptation to changing environments. Sexual reproduction also promotes genetic diversity, which helps in the survival of a species. However, sexual reproduction has some disadvantages, such as the need for a mate, which can be time-consuming and energy-intensive. It also carries the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Some plants and animals can reproduce both sexually and asexually. The benefits of this adaptation include the ability to reproduce rapidly through asexual reproduction and the production of genetically diverse offspring through sexual reproduction. Examples of plants that reproduce both sexually and asexually include strawberries and dandelions, while animals such as starfish and aphids can also reproduce in both ways.
Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence that can have various effects on an organism's characteristics, behavior, and how it functions. Mutations are essential for genetic variation, which is the raw material of evolution. Some harmful mutations include those that cause genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia.