The principal advantage that sexual reproduction confers upon a species is the continued existence of that species. If a species does not reproduce, it will die out.
Creating Children.
Reproduction and continuation of the species.
Genetic variation
sexual reproduction, leading to the asexual reproductive mechanisms seen in Penicillium species. This loss of sexual reproduction may have provided a selective advantage in specific environmental conditions, allowing for the rapid spread and adaptation of Penicillium fungi.
Sexual reproduction allows for genetic diversity through the combination of genetic material from two parents, leading to offspring with unique traits and increased adaptability to changing environments. This diversity can enhance the survival and evolution of a species.
Sexual reproduction
It is generally though that sexual recombination is the greatest advantage of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction. By recombining genes you get many variants that may have some members of the population resistant to some environmental challenge. Asexuality just gives clones.
For creatures whose primary reproductive strategy is to produce a huge numbers of copies, such as bacteria, sexual reproduction isn't as viable. The main advantage would be speed in which new individuals are generated perhaps, whereas a huge disadvantage is that the genepool of species is kept relatively poor in terms of variablilty.
Continuation of that species.
The advantage of sexual reproduction lies in its ability to can combine the effects of 2 beneficial mutations in the same individual.
the offspring will have the ability to survive in the environment
It is generally though that sexual recombination is the greatest advantage of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction. By recombining genes you get many variants that may have some members of the population resistant to some environmental challenge. Asexuality just gives clones.