# A student states: 'Sexual reproduction in animals always produces offspring that show more variation than offspring produced by asexual reproduction.' Evaluate this statement.

> Pearson Edexcel A-Level Biology A (9BI0) — 2.3 Sexual reproduction in animals and plants · Evaluate · 5 marks

> Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes. Asexual reproduction involves a single parent and produces genetically identical offspring.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Agrees: sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes (fertilisation), combining genetic material from two parents
2. Agrees: gametes are haploid cells produced by meiosis, and meiosis produces genetic variation in the gametes
3. Agrees: asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring (clones) from a single parent, so there is no genetic variation
4. Agrees or partially agrees: the statement is correct in that sexual reproduction produces genetically varied offspring whereas asexual reproduction does not
5. Challenges: the statement is not always true / has a limitation, because environmental factors can cause variation in both sexually and asexually produced offspring, OR the statement only refers to genetic variation and ignores environmental variation

## Key terms

- [sexual reproduction](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/sexual-reproduction)
- [asexual reproduction](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/asexual-reproduction)
- [variation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/variation)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel A-Level Biology A (9BI0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Evaluate" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-states-sexual-reproduction-in-c0f07a77) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.