What are advantages and disadvantages of Asexual Reproduction? also write example.

Question:

What are advantages and disadvantages of Asexual Reproduction? also write example.

Answer:

Advantages of Asexual Reproduction

Following are the advantages of asexual reproduction:

• Mates not required.
• The process of reproduction is rapid.
• An enormous number of organisms can be produced in very less time.
• Positive genetic influences pass on to successive generations.
• It occurs in various environments.

Disadvantages of Asexual Reproduction

The major disadvantages of asexual reproduction are:

• Lack of diversity. Since the off springs are genetically identical to the parent they are more susceptible to the same diseases and nutrient deficiencies as the parent. All the negative mutations persist for generations.
• Since only one organism is involved, the diversity among the organisms is limited.
• They are unable to adapt to the changing environment.
• A single change in the environment would eliminate the entire species.

Asexual Reproduction Examples

Following are the examples of asexual reproduction:

• Bacterium undergoes binary fission in which the cell divides into two along with the nucleus.
• Blackworms or mud worms reproduce through fragmentation.
• Hydras reproduce through budding.
• Organisms such as copperheads undergo parthenogenesis.
• Sugarcane can be grown through vegetative propagation.