An advantage of asexual reproduction is that it ________.
A) allows the species to endure long periods of unstable environmental conditions
B) enhances genetic variability in the species
C) enables the species to flourish in stable habitats that are favorable to that species
D) produces offspring that respond effectively to new pathogens
E) allows a species to easily rid itself of harmful mutations

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Asexual reproduction enables a species to rapidly produce offspring that are well-suited for a specific environment. This advantage is particularly beneficial when environmental conditions are stable and favorable to that species.

Answer: E
 Asexual reproduction can prevent harmful mutations from being eliminated from a population, as there is no genetic exchange to introduce new genetic diversity. However, it does allow a species to easily rid itself of harmful mutations by immediately producing offspring that are genetically identical to the parent with the harmful mutation, allowing that lineage to be efficiently eliminated from the population.

An Advantage of Asexual Reproduction Is That It ________