Question

Why is sexual reproduction useful if only half the animals can produce offspring and two separate cells must be combined to form a third?

Short answer

Sexual reproduction produces a new combination of genes in the offspring that may better enable them to survive changes in the environment and assist in the survival of the species.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1.Introduction

Sexual reproduction, the production of new organisms by the combination of genetic information of two individuals of different sexes.

Sexual reproduction means the joining of sperm and eggs within animals’ bodies or it may mean the release of sperm and eggs into the environment. It starts with the combination of a sperm and an egg in a process, which is known as fertilization. The fertilization varies among animals.

Step 2. Explanation

• Sexual reproduction produces offspring with novel combinations of genes that may better enable them to survive the changes in the environment and assist in the survival of the species.
• Therefore, even only half of the animals can produce offspring, the adaptability of the new offspring to survive the changes in the environment can still continue the cycle of the reproduction of new offspring.