Question

Which statement best describes the cost of meiosis?

a. Production of haploid gametes for sexual reproduction has a higher energy cost than direct production of diploid offspring.
b. Males pass on only 75 percent of their genetic material through sexual reproduction rather than 100 percent through asexual reproduction.
c. Sexual reproduction puts individuals at greater risk for predation.
d. Females pass on only 50 percent of their DNA through sexual reproduction rather than 100 percent through asexual reproduction.
e. Sexual reproduction results in fewer offspring than asexual reproduction.

Answer 1

Meiosis has a higher energy cost due to the complex processes of crossover, random assortment, and fertilization, which are crucial for producing genetically diverse offspring in sexual reproduction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best describes the cost of meiosis is that the production of haploid gametes for sexual reproduction has a higher energy cost than direct production of diploid offspring. In sexual reproduction, variation is introduced into offspring through mechanisms like crossover, random assortment of homologous chromosomes, and random fertilization, which are all present in meiosis.

Each of these mechanisms adds a layer of complexity and energy requirement to the reproductive process. This contributes to the evolutionary success of sexual reproduction despite the higher energy cost and reduced number of offspring compared to asexual reproduction, as it increases genetic diversity.