3.1 understand the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction

Sexual reproduction: joining of 2 gametes produced by Meiosis from 2 parents to produce non-identical offspring, inheriting characteristics of both parents.

Advantages of Sexual Reproduction:
- Increases variation
- Organisms can adapt to a new environment
- Diseases less likely to affect whole population due to variation

Disadvantages of Sexual Reproduction:
- takes long time and energy to find mates
- not possible for isolated members


Asexual Reproduction: Involves only one parent that produces offsprings genetically identical via Mitosis.

Advantages of Asexual Reproduction:
- The population can be increased rapidly
- Can exploit suitable environments quickly

Disadvantages of Asexual Reproduction:
- Decreases variation
- Vulnerable to change in conditions
- disease likely to affect the whole population.