Final answer:
Sexual reproduction generates genetically diverse offspring by combining the genetic material from two parents, which contributes to the population's adaptability to environmental changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of reproduction that produces genetically diverse offspring is sexual reproduction. This process involves the fertilization of gametes from two separate parents, leading to variability in the genetic makeup of the offspring. Genetic diversity is introduced in multiple ways during sexual reproduction, including crossing-over, independent assortment, and the random union of gametes. This diversity is critical as it may enhance the survival of a population in changing environmental conditions, although it requires that both males and females be present for reproduction. On the other hand, while asexual reproduction results in genetically identical offspring, it lacks genetic variation, which could increase the risk of extinction with environmental changes.
During sexual reproduction, the genetic material of two individuals is combined to produce genetically diverse offspring that differ from their parents. The genetic diversity of sexually produced offspring is thought to give species a better chance of surviving in an unpredictable or changing environment. Species that reproduce sexually must maintain two different types of individuals, males and females, which can limit the ability to colonize new habitats as both sexes must be present.