Strawberry plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Describe the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction in strawberry plants, including reference to the number of parents involved and the genetic variation of offspring.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Strawberry plants produce flowers that can be pollinated to form seeds. They also produce structures called runners — long horizontal stems that grow along the ground and form new plants at their tips.
Model answer (4 marks)
Sexual reproduction in strawberries uses two parents – the pollen from a flower (male) and the ovule (female). The male and female gametes fuse during fertilisation, producing a seed that develops into a new plant. The offspring therefore show genetic variation because they inherit a mix of genes from both parents.
Asexual reproduction uses only one parent. The strawberry plant produces runners that grow along the ground and at their tips form new plants. These new plants are clones of the parent, so they are genetically identical to the parent plant.
Asexual reproduction uses only one parent. The strawberry plant produces runners that grow along the ground and at their tips form new plants. These new plants are clones of the parent, so they are genetically identical to the parent plant.
Examiner tips
- Use the word ‘two parents’ for sexual and ‘one parent’ for asexual; mention fertilisation for sexual; state genetic variation for sexual and genetic identity for asexual; keep answer concise and to the point.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the number of parents; writing that asexual reproduction involves two parents; forgetting to mention fertilisation; claiming asexual offspring are genetically varied.
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- Sexual reproduction involves two parents / asexual reproduction involves one parent
- Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes (fertilisation)
- Sexual reproduction produces offspring with genetic variation / offspring are not genetically identical to parents
- Asexual reproduction produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent
Key terms in this question
sexual reproduction · asexual reproduction · genetic variation
Related
- Revision notes: Reproduction →
- How to answer a "Describe" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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