Question

Some species are able to reproduce either sexually or asexually. What is a drawback of a population using asexual reproduction only?

A. High genetic diversity puts the population at risk to environmental change.
B. Low genetic diversity puts the population at risk to environmental change.
C. High genetic diversity prevents the population from expanding its territory.
D. Low genetic diversity prevents the population from expanding its territory.

Answer 1

The correct answer is (B). Low genetic diversity puts the population at risk to environmental change. Asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent. This means that the population will have low genetic diversity, which can make it more vulnerable to environmental changes such as diseases or changes in climate.