Reproduction

Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes from two parents, resulting in genetic variation, while asexual reproduction involves producing offspring from a single parent, resulting in genetically identical individuals.

Advantages include genetic diversity and adaptation to changing environments, while disadvantages include the need for a mate and the energy cost of producing and finding gametes.

Asexual reproduction can occur through various methods such as binary fission in bacteria, budding in yeast, fragmentation in starfish, and vegetative propagation in plants like strawberries and potatoes.