Which term describes the production of genetically identical offspring from one parent by mitosis?

Which term describes the production of genetically identical offspring from one parent by mitosis?

• A. Asexual reproduction
• B. Sexual reproduction
• C. Pollination
• D. Meiosis

Answer: (A)

Producing genetically identical offspring from one parent through mitosis is asexual reproduction. Mitosis makes exact copies of the parent’s genome, so the resulting offspring have the same chromosome number and, barring mutations, nearly identical DNA. This is different from sexual reproduction, which relies on meiosis and fertilization to combine genetic material from two parents, creating variation. Pollination is a process involved in plant sexual reproduction, not a method of making identical clones. Meiosis is the division that produces gametes with half the chromosome number, enabling sexual reproduction rather than cloning.

Producing genetically identical offspring from one parent through mitosis is asexual reproduction. Mitosis makes exact copies of the parent’s genome, so the resulting offspring have the same chromosome number and, barring mutations, nearly identical DNA. This is different from sexual reproduction, which relies on meiosis and fertilization to combine genetic material from two parents, creating variation. Pollination is a process involved in plant sexual reproduction, not a method of making identical clones. Meiosis is the division that produces gametes with half the chromosome number, enabling sexual reproduction rather than cloning.