Asexual reproduction

How this is marked

The two paying points are 'one parent' and 'genetically identical' offspring (clones). Students lose marks by saying 'no gametes' as the whole answer without the genetic point, or by confusing identical offspring with 'similar' offspring. Examiners often ask for an advantage (only one parent needed, rapid) and a disadvantage (no variation, so a population is vulnerable to a change in conditions or disease).

In an exam answer

Explaining a risk of asexual reproduction: 'Because asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring from one parent, the whole population can be killed by a single disease as there is no variation.'

Full topic guide: Reproduction