Ascientist is studying two types of worms. worm x has dna identical to its parent. worm y has a combination of dna from two parents. the scientist determines that one of the worms has a survival advantage over the other worm. which statement correctly summarizes this conclusion? a. worm x reproduces asexually, which gives it genetic variation. b. worm y reproduces sexually, which gives it genetic variation. c. worm y reproduces asexually, which gives it more dna. d. worm x reproduces sexually, which gives it more dna.

B. Worm Y reproduces sexually, which gives it genetic variation.

Explanation:

If the progeny has a combination of DNA from two parents then it simply means that it was reproduced sexually. Two of worm Y's parents produced gametes which fused to give rise to zygote which developed into worm Y. The reason why worm Y has genetic variation is a process named as meiosis which is exclusive to only sexual reproduction. Genetic diversity provides survival advantage to sexually reproducing individuals. If all the individuals in a population are alike with no genetic variations then a single natural calamity or change in environment will wipe off all of them but if they will have genetic diversity because of sexual reproduction then its quite possible that some of them will survive and rest of them will die out. Some of them will be able to survive because they have different types of genetic material which is a blend of both the parents as a result of which they have different traits which may help them to survive in extreme environmental conditions. So, it is worm Y which will have survival advantage over worm X.

When it comes to worm X, we can easily interpret that it has been reproduced asexually i.e. its genetic material is derived from only one parent so it will be exact replica of one parent.