DIVE Biology Quarterly Exam 2 Practice

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction where an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg. As a result, female organisms that reproduce via parthenogenesis do so without the need for male fertilization. This process is common in certain species of plants, reptiles, and other organisms, enabling them to reproduce in environments where males are scarce or absent.

While the other choices may relate to broader concepts in biology, they do not accurately describe the main outcome of parthenogenesis. For example, while some parthenogenetic processes can lead to new species over time through evolutionary mechanisms, this is not a direct result of the parthenogenetic event itself. Similarly, while parthenogenesis typically results in offspring that are genetically similar to the mother, it does not inherently lead to genetic diversity or an increase in mutation rates compared to sexual reproduction. Therefore, the correct focus is on the ability of female organisms to reproduce independently of male fertilization.