# A population of strawberry plants reproduces asexually by sending out runners that produce new plants. A fungal disease infects one plant in the population. Explain why this disease is likely to destroy the entire population.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Biology (0610) — 16.1 Asexual reproduction · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. All offspring are genetically identical (clones) to the parent plant
2. Therefore all plants have the same lack of resistance / susceptibility to the disease
3. There is no genetic variation / diversity in the population
4. So a pathogen / disease that harms one individual will harm all individuals, potentially destroying the whole population

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