Question

• When does a farmer prefer asexual or sexual methods of reproduction for crops production?
• Why do you think most complex animals and flowering plants use sexual reproduction, while many simple organisms, like yeast and hydra mainly reproduce asexually?

Answer 1

• A farmer prefers asexual reproduction when he/she wants to preserve a desirable trait and produce genetically identical, uniform plants quickly, e.g., through cutting, grafting, layering or tissue culture. Sexual reproduction is preferred when he/she wants new varieties, genetic variation, disease resistance or improved yields through seeds and hybridisation.
• Sexual reproduction creates genetic variation through meiosis and fusion of gametes. This variation helps complex animals and flowering plants adapt to changing environments, resist diseases and evolve. Simple organisms like yeast and hydra reproduce asexually because it is quick, simple and produces many offspring rapidly, which is sufficient in their relatively stable and simple environments.