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Sexual reproduction adds to genetic diversity because reproduction assembles:
AEntirely brand new genes
BDoubled sets of chromosomes
CIdentical parental copies
DUnique combinations of alleles
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Unique combinations of alleles
1. Mutation is one source of variation, but not the only one.
2. Sexual reproduction also leads to genetic diversity.
3. When two parents reproduce, unique combinations of alleles assemble to produce the unique genotypes and thus phenotypes in each of the offspring.
4. No new gene is invented in the process; existing alleles are shuffled.
5. That is why siblings differ despite sharing both parents.
_Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 'Evolution and the Origin of Species', sections 18.1-18.3_
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