Question

Observe the given diagram and answer the questions that follow:

1. Give the name of the structure and type of reproduction shown in the above diagram.
2. State one advantage and one disadvantage of the above mentioned method of reproduction.
3. Give reason: Asexual reproduction lacks genetic variation.
4. Why have higher organisms resorted to sexual reproduction in spite of its complexity?

Answer 1

1. Structure: This is a leaf of Bryophyllum.
   Type of Reproduction: Vegetative propagation, which is a form of asexual reproduction. Specifically, it occurs through the development of adventitious buds in the marginal notches of the leaf.
2. Advantage: This method allows for rapid and efficient multiplication of the plant, as multiple new plantlets can develop from a single leaf simultaneously.
   Disadvantage: There is a lack of genetic variation; since the offspring are clones of the parent, the entire population is equally susceptible to the same diseases or environmental changes.
3. Asexual reproduction lacks genetic variation because it involves only one parent and does not include the fusion of male and female gametes. The process typically occurs through mitosis, where the parent’s DNA is replicated exactly, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent (clones).
4. Higher organisms have resorted to sexual reproduction because it introduces genetic variation through the combination of DNA from two different parents. This diversity is critical for: