what are the advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual reproduction?
547834
The main advantage of sexual reproduction is that it can produce much more variation in the offspring, which gives natural selection more to work with.  This allows faster adaptation of future generations to changes in the environment, or to allow future generations to explore different environments.\n\nThe main disadvantage is that it requires individuals to find sex partners.  So a very sudden catastrophe that causes scarcity of individuals, could cause extinction, where an asexual organism might be able to rebound.
513495
Nature designed most animal bodies to give-receive pleasure so as to keep the reproduction and the karmic wheel going! "NATURE WANTS MORE AND MORE BABIES! Peek sex drive of most organisms is during the peak fertility periods, esp those during puberty and early adulthood when the DNA of the gametes hopefully is not too damaged yet by the various mutagens out there in the environment and before the prospective parents are too old and tired and diseased to take cre of their offspring.
207392
In organisms that reproduce only sexually, the mutations in somatic cells normally don't go beyond the individual. But in the case of organisms that can reproduce asexually, by means of divisions of those somatic cells, a mutation in those cells could be passed to the descendants and thus be under the influence of evolutionary forces. \nThat's a common event in plants, especially a type of mutation called polyploidy (multiplication of the entire chromosome set). These types of mutations are also induced by man to obtain new varieties.
11918
This is probably the strangest question I have ever seen.  I suppose there are only two sexes because there is only one reason for there to be more than one sex:  reproduction.  Some organisms reproduce asexually, but their offspring are exact clones.  In order to create an entirely new organism, we need to have at two different sets of genes to combine.  Since we reproduce by sperm (male) and egg (female), how could there possibly be another sex capable of reproduction?
32634
besides its primary role in reproduction, sex relieves hormonal tensions. since our bodies produce eggs and sperms during our sexually active age, we need to have sex to release such tensions within. some people have resorted to masturbation to achieve this but ideally have good and clean sex with the one you love. another benefit of sex is it draws a couple closer. when the Bible says that two shall become one, it suggest that for sex too when a couple is enjoined physically, emotionally and spiritually.
823654
rapid reproduction time can allow for fast adaptation/high mutation rates\nno problems with internal transport of nutrients, diffusion/osmosis sufficient\nnot problem with breathing, no need for a lot of specialized organs. All reducing the possibilities for a lot of diseases (less complicated, less can go wrong). Cancer is not going to be a problem, ever. \nreproduction by simple cell division viable option (no complicated sex life  -does s/he really love me - confusing the critter)\nrequire comparatively less energy, not just because of small size, but also because they don't need to expend energy on coordinating and maintaining all those extra organ systems - like we expend a lot of energy just to keep our brain going, whether we use it or not. \ndon't need much space, the earth can support more bacteria than humans...\nthere are obviously also disadvantages, otherwise we all would be unicellular.
855495
very simple\n\nBecause sexual reproduction involves 2 species(man and woman) which entails 2 different genetic make-up. Therefore,\nthe offspring that will be produced will be based from the resulting gene of the mother and the father\n\nwhile asexual reproduction do not involve a 2nd party and so naturally it will produce another organism which is identical since it is organically within its genetic make-up
301358
Nearly all animals undergo some form of sexual reproduction. Adults are diploid or occasionally polyploid. They have a few specialized reproductive cells, which undergo meiosis to produce smaller motile spermatozoa or larger non-motile ova. These fuse to form zygotes, which develop into new individuals.\n\nMany animals are also capable of asexual reproduction. This may take place through parthenogenesis, where fertile eggs are produced without mating, or in some cases through fragmentation.\n\nA zygote initially develops into a hollow sphere, called a blastula, which undergoes rearrangement and differentiation. In sponges, blastula larvae swim to a new location and develop into a new sponge. In most other groups, the blastula undergoes more complicated rearrangement. It first invaginates to form a gastrula with a digestive chamber, and two separate germ layers - an external ectoderm and an internal endoderm. In most cases, a mesoderm also develops between them. These germ layers then differentiate to form tissues and organs.\n\nAnimals grow by indirectly using the energy of sunlight. Plants use this energy to turn air into simple sugars using a process known as photosynthesis. These sugars are then used as the building blocks which allow the plant to grow. When animals eat these plants (or eat other animals which have eaten plants), the sugars produced by the plant are used by the animal. They are either used directly to help the animal grow, or broken down, releasing stored solar energy, and giving the animal the energy required for motion. This process is known as glycolysis.
244365
zero!  asexual reproduction hasn't occurred in the human species yet.
354423
Lower level of sex hormones. In an evolution point of view, we only need to have sex in order to reproduce. So once we've passed our prime age of reproduction our bodies do not produce sex hormones as much.
494082
Actually, the entire reproductive system, and all the processes and instincts and drives that go around them are only important to the survival of the species, and not the individual.\n\nAn individual organism can live quite well without using their reproductive system at all, and can even have major portions of it removed, without affecting the overall health of the organism.\n\nHowever, an individual that will not or cannot reproduce does not add anything to the overall survival capability or fitness of a species.\n\nIn many species (including quite a few humans) following the needs and drives of the reproductive system can have a major negative impact on the individual health of the organism, leaving them exhausted, vulnerable, taking up time that could be used obtaining food, or leading to behaviours and displays that can get them killed, but as long as their actions lead to the propagation of the species and successful reproduction, those traits survive to be passed on to the next generation.
840584
good way to remember - mitosis happens in my toes - asexual reproduction of cells, otherwise known as growth.\n\nMeiosis is the process by which sexual reproduction occurs, as in a combination of gametes (containing half the necessary genetic material) to create a new cell.\n\nAlleles are portions of genetic material that have a physical (or phenotypic) effect. These are usually sections of chromosomes, bundles of colied and intertwined DNA.\n\nMutation is any alteration of the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or Ribonucleic acid (RNA). Evolution could not occur without mutation. Intelligent Design is a bunch of nonsense. It's all random and we are very lucky to be alive and sentient. Don't waste your intelligence on Yahoo Answers. I will now follow my own advice...
541267
survive and reproduce
489172
1- large amount of offspring in shorter time than K selected species.\n2- Early reproduction \n3- low biomass\n3- short lifespan\n\nBacteria, mice, insects... they're all r-selected.
193970
>Reproduction occurs both sexually and by asexual budding. Sexual reproduction is by means of eggs and sperm, which are produced in the mesentaries and shed into the water. Fertilization results in a free-swimming larva, which attaches to a surface and secretes a skeleton, becoming (in colonial forms) the parent of a new colony.
315159
No, inbreeding is not an optimal method of reproduction, but it has purpose.  It's a natural part of evolution for a species to allow inbreeding.  In order to prevent extincition, small populations need to be able to multiply any way they can until the gene pool can become more varied.
370678
The first example would be "halpodiploidy" that occurs in bees, ants and wasps. In this form of asexual reproduction, females lay unfertilized eggs. The eggs can then hatch without fertilization, giving an asexually produced male, or they can be fertilized by a male, giving a sexually produced female.\n\nA second example would be "parthenogenesis" (Greek for "virgin birth"), seen in some fish, reptiles and amphibians. One commonly studied reptile species, the lizard Cnemidophorus neomexicanus, contains only females. All progeny contain the exact genetic information as its mother, essentially making it a clone. The females still engage in lesbian sexual behavior, which is thought to stimulate the laying of eggs. No genetic information, however, is transferred during this sexual act.\n\nThere are many other examples, and the previous answer touched on a few. I would add that anthrax is a bacterium, and therefore NOT a many-celled organism.