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
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.
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.
Sexual reproduction provides genetic variation to plants to help them survive in a changing environment.
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.
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.
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 statement is true, we need to understand the advantages of sexual reproduction compared to asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes from two parents, resulting in offspring that inherit genetic traits from both parents. This process introduces genetic variation into the population, making it more likely that some individuals will possess traits that are advantageous for survival in a changing environment.
Genetic variation provides a higher chance that at least some individuals in a population will be able to adapt to new environmental conditions. This is important because the environment is constantly changing, and having a diverse set of traits increases the chances of survival for a species. In contrast, asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent and do not contribute to genetic variation within the population.
The other statements, such as asexual reproduction allowing plants to skip finding a mate or avoiding caring for offspring, do describe benefits of asexual reproduction. However, they do not directly address why sexual reproduction might be more beneficial in terms of increasing genetic variation and adaptability.