Final answer:
While mating can sometimes result in weaker offspring, especially in cases of inbreeding, this is not universally true. Many factors contribute to the survival and reproductive success of offspring, including genetic diversity, parental investment, and selective breeding practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that mating results in weak offspring that does not live to reproduce can be false. In biology, the survival and reproductive success of offspring depend on a variety of factors. For example, in selective breeding, certain traits are chosen to be passed down, which can lead to genetic changes in the offspring and may not necessarily result in weaker individuals.
However, when closely related individuals mate (inbreeding), it often leads to offspring that are not as fit as those from mating between unrelated individuals. This is because inbreeding can increase the chance of inheriting recessive genetic disorders and decrease genetic diversity, leading to decreased life spans and an increased chance of offspring dying before they can reproduce.
Conversely, parents that invest in long-term parental care typically have fewer offspring, but these offspring may have a higher survival rate and better chance to reproduce. This is counter to the idea that mating necessarily leads to weak offspring.