Question

Sea stars (starfish) can reproduce asexually by fragmentation if their arms are cut off, or sexually by releasing sperm and eggs into the water. Which of these is the major difference between asexual and sexual reproduction in sea stars?
A) The chromosome number is reduced in sea stars during asexual reproduction.
B) The number of chromosomes is increased in sea stars during sexual reproduction.
C) The appearance of the sea stars is changed as a result of asexual reproduction.
D) There is genetic variation in the sea stars as a result of sexual reproduction.

Answer 1

Option d is correct

Because during sexual reproduction each parent transfer characters and mutation maymoccur due to which there is a change in offsprings

INSHALLAH IT WILL HELP

Answer 2

D) There is genetic variation in the sea stars as a result of sexual reproduction

Starfish are animals that are generally known to reproduce by both sexual as well as asexual method.

In sexual reproduction, fertilization occurs in the water with sperms and eggs let out into the environment by males and females.The genetic material of the two individuals gets mixed during sexual reproduction to produce genetically different offspring varying from their parents.

Asexual reproduction occurs through fragmentation of a part of an arm and portion of the central disk gets detached from the "parent" and grows into an independent  star fish with the same DNA.

As such, sexual reproduction would ensure genetic variation in sea stars.