What is sexual reproduction?
A reproduction method where offspring inherit DNA from both parents.
What is asexual reproduction?
A reproduction method where offspring inherit DNA from only one parent.
What are the two types of asexual reproduction?
Vegetative reproduction and parthenogenesis.
What is the difference between the two types of asexual reproduction?
Vegetative reproduction occurs when an individual is produced from the nonsexual tissues of a parent, thereby creating a clone, whereas parthenogenesis involves the creation of an embryo without fertilization, thereby creating a clone (germ cell to egg, no meiosis) or a genetically variable offspring (germ cell(s) to egg, partial/full meiosis).
What are some cons of sexual reproduction?
- cost of energy, time and resources for sexual organs and mating
- elevated risk of herbivory, predation, and parasitism
- cost of reduced fitness (for organisms in which the sexes are separate) aka the cost of meiosis
What are some pros of sexual reproduction?
- The ability to purge harmful mutations
- Genetic variation so offspring are better equipped to deal with future environmental variation
What are some pros of asexual reproduction?
- Lower cost/no cost of meiosis
- Eliminated need to search for a mate, decreasing the risk of herbivory, predation, and parasitism
What are some cons of asexual reproduction?
- Accumulation of harmful mutations
- Reduced genetic variation
Ultimately, most lineages using asexual reproduction do not persist as long as their sexually reproducing counterparts
What is the Red Queen Hypothesis?
Sexual reproduction allows hosts to evolve fast enough to stay ahead of their parasites' evolution.
“Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.”
What is a perfect flower?
A flower with both male and female parts.
What would drive a plant to self-fertilize as opposed to outcrossing?
A plant may self-fertilize when a willing mate cannot be found or when resources are limited.
How does frequency-dependent selection result in a 1:1 ratio of females to males?
Individual of a less common sex, with an affinity to produce more offspring of a less common sex, will continue to experience more reproductive success until the sexes are balanced.
Why is monogamy more common in birds than mammals?
Because male birds can provide much of the same care to chicks (incubating, gathering food, predator protection) as females. In mammals however, males cannot, particularly because they don't lactate.
Sexual selection makes (typically) males compete strongly with each other resulting in the evolution of traits that are used to _________ females or are used in __________ and __________ amongst males.
attract, contests and combat
What is the good gene hypothesis?
An individual chooses a mate that possesses a superior genotype.
What is the good health hypothesis?
An individual will choose the healthiest mates.
Are the good gene hypothesis and the good health hypothesis mutually exclusive? Why or why not?
No, good health could be the outcome of either superior genetics (good gene hypothesis) or a superior upbringing with abundant resources (good health hypothesis).
What are material benefits (in female choice)?
Physical items that a male can provide a female including a site for raising offspring, a high-quality territory, or abundant food.
What are non-material benefits (in female choice)?
The genes or health of a male that can be passed down to the offspring of the female.