Final answer:
Sexual reproduction leads to genetically unique offspring through mechanisms like crossing-over, independent assortment, and fertilization. Mitosis maintains genetic uniformity and can lead to asexual reproduction, which produces identical offspring optimal for stable environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process that results in offspring that are genetically unique is sexual reproduction. During sexual reproduction, genetic variation is introduced through the processes of crossing-over, independent assortment, and the random union of gametes from two different parents. These mechanisms ensure that each offspring is a unique genetic blend of its parents, differing from them and also from any siblings.
Mitosis, in contrast, is a cell division process that generally maintains genetic uniformity and is utilized in growth, development, and tissue repair. In certain organisms, mitosis can lead to asexual reproduction, producing offspring that are genetically identical clones of the parent organism. This form of reproduction is most successful in predictable, stable environments, where genetic consistency is advantageous.
In summary, while mitosis can be part of the process of asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction is distinct in its ability to produce genetically diverse offspring via meiotic cell division and subsequent fertilization, combining genetic material from two different individuals.