Grade 9 Science
Name:________________
Advantages and Disadvantages of ……
Asexual Reproduction
Advantages:
1) large numbers of offspring are reproduced very quickly from only one parent when
conditions are favourable
2) large colonies can form that can out-compete other organisms for nutritients and water
3) large number of organisms means the species may survive when the conditions or the
number of predators change
4) energy is not required to find a mate
Disadvantages:
1) offspring are genetic clones, a negative mutation can make asexually reproduced
offspring vulnerable to disease and can kill off large numbers of offspring
2) some methods of asexual reproduction produce offspring that are close together and therefore
compete for space and food
3) unfavourable conditions such as extreme temperatures can wipe out entire colonies
Sexual Reproduction
Advantages:
1) there is variation among the offspring (i.e. no two offspring are the same)
2) the variability in a speices guarantees that a higher percentage of offspring will survive in perilous
conditions
3) there are two parents to (potentially) care for the offspring
Disadvantages:
1) male and female must expend energy to find each other to couple
2) an organism requires special tissues and TWO cell divisions in order to coduct meiosis which
prepares the gametes
3) overall, it is much slower to reproduce sexually (compared to asexually)
4) the genetic results of meiosis and often fertilization are sometimes unpredictable (mutations)
5) offspring are not necessarily as adaptable to their environment as their parents
Assignment:
Cartoon/Drawing Assignment- Advantages and Disadvantages of Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction
Draw a poster on 8.5 X 14 paper that explains in images and words two advantage and two disadvantages of both sexual and asexual reproduction. You may want to use both sides of the paper for
your project: one side for sexual reproduction and the other side for asexual reproduction.
Your images must be clearly labelled, colourful and you should be able to present your poster(s) to the
class. Use humour!! You also need to show a rough copy of your work to Miss C before you start your
good copy.
You have 1.5 hours to do the rough copy and the good copy.
Outcome
compare sexual and asexual reproduction in terms of their
advantages and disadvantages (305-3)
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