Question

Why is sexual reproduction so wide spread when the costs of reproducing sexually are so high?

Answer 1

Sexual reproduction offers advantages such as variation and adaptability through combining genomes and reshuffling genes from different parents.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sexual reproduction is widespread despite the high costs because it offers several advantages.

1. Variation: Sexual reproduction results in greater variation in offspring compared to asexual reproduction. This variation is important for the survival and reproduction of populations.
2. Combining Genomes: Sexual reproduction allows for the reshuffling of genes from different parents, resulting in unique combinations of genes in offspring.
3. Adaptability: The variation generated through sexual reproduction enhances the ability of populations to adapt to changing environments.

Overall, although sexual reproduction may be costly, the benefits it provides in terms of variation and adaptability make it advantageous for organisms.