Reproduction: Is sex important?

        For a population of organisms to survive, they depend on either sexual or asexual reproduction. Both of these methods have their benefits and costs, and neither is perfect for the survival of the organisms. Sexual reproduction can help spread positive genetic traits and even the dissemination of disease or parasite resistance, as the genes from each parent are naturally selected to benefit the offspring. The nine-banded armadillo benefits from this genetic variety, which helps it become unique and resist disease. However, sexual reproduction takes more time and energy, and competition can be detrimental to the population. Furthermore, asexual reproduction is simple and does not require a mate, but it often results in swift extinction due to clones being genetically identical and vulnerable to the same threats. Philodina utilize asexual reproduction to propagate all over the planet, using anhydrobiosis to travel long distances. This helps overcome vulnerability as a mass, and takes advantage of the benefits of asexual reproduction. Furthermore, the Atta colombica ant travels with disease-free fungus, which helps protect the asexually reproducing fungus gardens against outbreaks of parasites. E. coli can cope with the problems of asexual reproduction by picking up loose DNA from the environment, viruses, animals and dead bacteria.
        After reading about these organisms and methods from the article ("Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation"), several questions still remain: how are eggs fertilized? How does asexual reproduction (e.g. binary fission) occur? And how exactly do these mutations occur during meiosis? I look forward to finding some answers in this unit.