Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

Which of the following examples best illustrates sexual reproduction?

Rationale

A bee transfers pollen between the flowers of different plants of the same species.

This example illustrates sexual reproduction because it involves the transfer of genetic material between different individuals, leading to the fertilization of ovules and the production of seeds. In contrast, the other choices depict asexual reproduction mechanisms, which do not involve the combination of genetic material from two different organisms.

A (A single bacterium increases in size and divides into two bacteria.) YOUR ANSWER

This option describes binary fission, a form of asexual reproduction where a single organism replicates its genetic material and divides into two identical daughter cells. Since there is no genetic contribution from another bacterium, this process does not involve sexual reproduction.

C (A small bud forms on a yeast cell, slowly grows, and separates from the original cell.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice illustrates budding, another method of asexual reproduction. In this process, a new organism develops from a small outgrowth on the parent organism and eventually detaches. Similar to binary fission, it does not involve genetic exchange between different organisms.

D (A flatworm's body fragments into different parts, which all become fully formed adults.) YOUR ANSWER

This scenario depicts fragmentation, a form of asexual reproduction where an organism breaks into pieces, and each piece can develop into a new individual. Again, this process does not involve the fusion of gametes or genetic material from separate organisms, disqualifying it as an example of sexual reproduction.

Conclusion

Sexual reproduction is characterized by the combination of genetic material from two distinct organisms, leading to greater genetic diversity. Among the provided options, the example of a bee transferring pollen between flowers represents this process, as it involves cross-fertilization between different plants. In contrast, the other choices all illustrate various forms of asexual reproduction, highlighting the differences in mechanisms of reproduction in the biological world.

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