2. Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction

Asexual or sexual reproduction?
Individuals inherit DNA from a single parent

asexual

Asexual reproduction shows that _____ is NOT essential to produce offspring

sex

Three ways we learned asexual reproduction occurs

Binary fission
Vegetative propagation
Parthenogenesis

What asexual reproduction strategy?
One individual produces a copy of all its DNA, then divides into two identical cells

Binary fission

What asexual reproduction strategy?
A new individual is produced from the nonsexual tissue of a parent (roots, leaves, etc.)

Vegetative propagation

What asexual reproduction strategy?
Females lay unfertilized eggs that develop into offspring

Parthenogenesis

Why might natural selection favor asexual reproduction?

Efficiency
Faster growth
Preservation of genotype
Colonization

One con of asexual reproduction is that once a mutation evolves in a lineage, it becomes permanent. Known as a _____ mutation, AKA “Muller’s ____”

fixed
ratchet

Asexual or sexual reproduction?
Individuals inherit DNA from two parents; Each parent contributes one set of chromosomes

Sexual

Sexual reproduction increases number of _______ _____; Greater possibility for beneficial combination of traits

Genetic combinations

One pro of sexual reproduction is that once a mutation evolves in a lineage, it (does/does not) become permanent

Does not

Name of phenomenon describing how sexual selection allows hosts to evolve at a rate that can counter the rapid evolution of parasites, due to genetic combination possibilities

Red Queen hypothesis

In sexually reproducing populations, a beneficial gene may be lost over time due to combinations in sexual selection. This is known as the “___ ___ ____”

Cost of meiosis

True or False?
In asexually reproducing populations, a beneficial gene definitely will be passed down to offspring, unlike in sexual reproduction.

True

Difference in gamete size between males and females

anisogmy

Anisogamy causes differences in ____ ____ of reproduction between males and females

potential rate

Males are not sexually limited in potential rate of reproduction because they produce

small, cheap sperm

Males can increase reproductive success by

seeking multiple partners

Females are sexually limited in potential rate of reproduction because they produce

large, expensive eggs

Theory that the sex that invests the most in producing offspring becomes a limiting resource over which the other sex will compete

e.g. females are typically choosier than males, who compete, since females invest more in reproduction

Bateman’s principle

Two major costs of sexual reproduction are

Resource allocation to reproduction (energy, etc.)
Cost of meiosis (loss of beneficial genes)

Two major benefits of sexual reproduction are

Avoids fixed mutations
Red queen hypothesis (can keep up with asexual reproducers)

Major cost of asexual reproduction

Fixed mutations (Muller’s ratchet)

Three major benefits to asexual reproduction

Population can rapidly grow
Low resource allocation to reproduction
Beneficial mutations are fixed