Question

directions: answer all three questions. where explanation or discussion is required, support your answers with relevant information and/or specific examples. you may use any blank paper for prewriting. 1. a hydra is a small freshwater organism that reproduces by budding. in this process, a new hydra grows from the body of the parent and eventually separates to live on its own. (a) identify whether the hydra’s reproduction is sexual or asexual. (b) describe two advantages and two disadvantages of this type of reproduction for the hydra. (c) explain how a sudden, drastic environmental change might affect the hydra population.

Explanation:

(a) Budding is a form of asexual reproduction as it involves only one parent and no gamete - formation or fertilization.
(b) Advantages: 1. Rapid reproduction as no need to find a mate. 2. All offspring have favorable traits of the parent if the environment is stable. Disadvantages: 1. Lack of genetic variation makes the population vulnerable to diseases and environmental changes. 2. No ability to adapt quickly to new environmental conditions through genetic recombination.
(c) A sudden, drastic environmental change might be harmful to the hydra population due to their lack of genetic diversity from asexual reproduction. If the change is not favorable to the existing traits in the population, a large number of hydras could die off as they may not have the genetic variability to adapt.

Answer:

(a) Asexual.
(b) Advantages:

1. Fast reproduction without mate - seeking.
2. Offspring inherit favorable parent traits in stable conditions.

Disadvantages:

1. Low genetic variation, vulnerable to diseases and changes.
2. Limited ability to adapt through genetic recombination.

(c) Due to low genetic diversity, a large number of hydras may die as they lack traits to adapt to the new conditions.