Final answer:
Sexual reproduction is beneficial as it promotes genetic variation in offspring, enhancing a population's ability to adapt and survive in changing environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
One hypothesis explains the benefit of sex as a way for parents to rapidly generate novel genotypes in their offspring. This genetic variation would allow populations to better survive in changing environments. Sexual reproduction smiultaneously incorporates mechanisms such as crossing-over during meiosis, independent assortment, and the random union of gametes during fertilization, all of which contribute to the genetic diversity of offspring.
As environments change, populations face different challenges, and genetic diversity can provide the raw material for adaptation. This variety within a population enhances its ability to withstand pressures like diseases, predation, and climate change, following the concept of the Red Queen Hypothesis. Therefore, sexual reproduction is beneficial for the survival and evolution of a species as a whole by promoting genetic diversity, despite being energetically costly and potentially reducing the number of offspring produced compared to asexual reproduction.