Many plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Which statement below best describes why one method might be more beneficial than the other?(1 point)
Responses
Sexual reproduction guarantees that two plants will provide nourishment for new plantlets.
Sexual reproduction guarantees that two plants will provide nourishment for new plantlets.
Sexual reproduction provides genetic variation to plants to help them survive in a changing environment.
Sexual reproduction provides genetic variation to plants to help them survive in a changing environment.
Asexual reproduction allows plants to skip the process of finding a mate.
Asexual reproduction allows plants to skip the process of finding a mate.
Asexual reproduction allows plants to avoid having to care for their offspring.
Sexual reproduction provides genetic variation to plants to help them survive in a changing environment.
The statement "Sexual reproduction provides genetic variation to plants to help them survive in a changing environment" best describes why one method might be more beneficial than the other.
The statement that best describes why one method might be more beneficial than the other is: "Sexual reproduction provides genetic variation to plants to help them survive in a changing environment."
To understand why this is the correct statement, let's explore sexual and asexual reproduction in plants:
1. Sexual reproduction: This involves the fusion of gametes from two different parent plants, usually through the process of pollination. In this method, plants produce flowers, attract pollinators, and transfer pollen between different individuals. The fusion of male and female gametes leads to genetic recombination, resulting in offspring that inherit traits from both parents.
Advantages of sexual reproduction:
- Genetic variation: The offspring are genetically diverse, with unique combinations of traits. This genetic variation increases the chances of some individuals having traits that are advantageous for survival in changing environments.
- Adaptation: Sexual reproduction allows for adaptation to different environmental conditions, as the genetic reshuffling introduces new traits that may offer better survival advantages.
- Disease resistance: By mixing genetic material from two different individuals, sexual reproduction can increase the chances of offspring inheriting resistance to diseases from one or both parents.
2. Asexual reproduction: This involves the production of offspring from a single parent without the involvement of gametes or fertilization. Common methods of asexual reproduction in plants include vegetative propagation (e.g., runners, bulbs, tubers, or cloning).
Advantages of asexual reproduction:
- Efficiency: Asexual reproduction allows plants to rapidly and efficiently produce numerous offspring without the need to find mates or undergo pollination.
- Clonal reproduction: Offspring produced through asexual reproduction are genetically identical or nearly identical to the parent plant, allowing for the perpetuation of favorable traits.
Now, coming back to the original question, the statement "Sexual reproduction provides genetic variation to plants to help them survive in a changing environment" is the most accurate because genetic variation obtained thual reproduction increases the chances of plants being able to adapt and survive in different and changing environments. It offers the potential for beneficial genetic traits to arise through recombination, providing a greater evolutionary advantage compared to asexual reproduction, which results in genetically identical or nearly identical offspring.