# Strawberry plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Explain why a strawberry plant that reproduces asexually produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant.

> Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) — 3.1 Sexual and asexual reproduction · Explain · 4 marks

> Strawberry plants can spread by producing runners — horizontal stems that grow along the ground and form new plants. They can also reproduce sexually by producing flowers that are pollinated and form seeds.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Asexual reproduction involves only one parent
2. No gametes are produced / no fertilisation occurs
3. New cells are produced by mitosis, so the offspring receive an identical copy of the parent's DNA / chromosomes
4. Therefore the offspring have the same alleles / genotype as the parent, making them genetically identical (clones)

## Related

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