AQA Biology 4.6.1.3

Advantages of sexual and asexual reproduction

Speed or variety? Set the conditions, predict which population does better, then meet organisms that use both.

Triple Science · Higher tier

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Field and meadow.

A farmer’s field of identical crop plants sits next to a wild meadow full of different plants.

If you had to guess, which is more likely to be wiped out by one new disease?

Speed or variety

Which does better?

Two populations: one made by asexual reproduction (clones), one by sexual reproduction (varied). Pick the conditions, then predict which population does better.

Predict first.

The advantages of each. Tap each.

Both ways

Organisms that use both.

Some organisms reproduce both ways. Pick one.

Pick an organism.

You only need to know these named organisms. For any other organism, use the information you are given to explain the advantages. Malaria as a disease: Fungal and protist diseases.

Think again · just worse?

“Asexual reproduction is just worse.”

Your call

Choose

When is asexual reproduction the better strategy?

Sort

Whose advantage?

Place each advantage.

Tap a card, then tap the box it belongs in. Tap a placed card to take it back.

Command words in this lesson

Explain: An advantage, using the information about an organism you’re given.
Compare: The advantages of sexual and asexual reproduction.
Suggest: Why an organism switches between the two.

Key fact

Sexual reproduction gives variation, a survival advantage when the environment changes. Asexual reproduction is faster and needs one parent, giving many identical offspring when conditions are favourable.

Key note · AQA 4.6.1.3 (Triple)

Advantages of sexual and asexual reproduction

Sexual: variation in offspring; a survival advantage by natural selection if the environment changes; used in selective breeding.
Asexual: one parent; time and energy efficient (no mate); faster; many identical offspring when conditions are favourable.
Both: malarial parasites (asexual in the human host, sexual in the mosquito); fungi (spores, and sexually for variation).
Plants: seeds sexually, and runners (strawberries) or bulb division (daffodils) asexually.

Photograph this card. Tomorrow, cover it and say each line first.

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Not sure which advantage goes with which kind?

Population pictures are illustrative.