Populations with Sexual Reproduction Have Been Found to Be

Question

Populations with sexual reproduction have been found to be
A) Always more abundant than asexual populations of the same species
B) Always less abundant than asexual populations of the same species
C) Generally consisting of older individuals than asexual populations
D) More resistant to disease and parasites than asexual populations

Accepted Answer

Sexual reproduction introduces genetic diversity within a population, which can enhance resistance to diseases and parasites. This diversity is due to the combination of genes from two parents, allowing for a greater range of traits that can be beneficial in surviving and combating various pathogens and environmental challenges. Asexual reproduction, on the other hand, produces genetically identical offspring, limiting the genetic variability and potentially making a population more susceptible to diseases and parasites that can exploit the lack of genetic diversity.