Science (086) — AI-generated practice question

Vegetative propagation as asexual reproduction:
Vegetative propagation involves a single parent plant producing new individuals through its roots, stems, or leaves. Like all asexual reproduction (fission, budding, spore formation), it relies on mitotic cell division — not the fusion of gametes. Because only one parent is involved and no fertilisation occurs, no new combination of genetic material is introduced. The new plants are therefore genetically identical (or very nearly so) to the parent plant, which is the defining genetic outcome of asexual reproduction.

Consequence for genetic diversity:
A crop grown entirely by vegetative propagation has very low genetic diversity — all plants are essentially clones of one parent.

Is this always a disadvantage?
Not always. For a farmer, genetic uniformity ensures all plants carry the same desirable traits (high yield, good flavour, disease resistance). It also allows plants like banana and seedless grapes — which cannot produce viable seeds — to be propagated reliably. However, if a new pest or disease emerges, the entire crop is equally vulnerable, since no individual has a genetic variation that might confer resistance. So the consequence is an advantage in stable conditions but a serious risk during outbreaks.

Source: Chapter 7, Section 7.2.5 Vegetative Propagation; Section 7.2.6 Spore Formation (summary)

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What examiners look for:

• Explicit link to single parent / no fertilisation / mitosis → asexual classification (don't just say "one parent"; connect it to cell division and genetic outcome).
• The word "genetically identical / clones" is expected — the passage uses "genetically similar enough… to have all its characteristics."
• The genetic diversity consequence must be named clearly: low/no genetic diversity.
• The "not always a disadvantage" part needs both sides briefly: advantage (uniform desirable traits, propagation of seedless plants) AND the risk (uniform susceptibility to disease). Examiners reward balanced reasoning here.
• Keep it concise — five tight points / two short paragraphs is enough for 5 marks.