How does asexual reproduction affect adaptability?

Answer 1

Something that reproduces asexually will have a difficult time adapting.

In asexual reproduction, the parent cell divides to create new cells which are completely identical to itself. Adaptability is based on an organisms ability to respond to change. This means favorable characteristics which allow organisms to survive will continue to allow those with favorable traits to survive and adapt.

When something reproduces to form another identical organism, both organisms are susceptible to the same threats. If a disease killed the parent organism, it will definitely be able to kill the offspring, for example. No favorable characteristics are created so the organism doesn't really adapt.

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Answer 2

Easton Bailey

Asexual reproduction reduces genetic diversity, which can limit adaptability to changing environments compared to sexual reproduction, where genetic recombination introduces variation.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.