The malarial protist reproduces sexually and asexually during a life cycle. Complete Table 3 to give three differences between sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction. One difference has been completed for you.

Sexual and asexual reproduction are two different strategies for producing offspring. * **Parents:** Sexual reproduction involves two parents contributing genetic information, while asexual reproduction involves only one parent. * **Gametes:** Sexual reproduction requires the fusion of two specialised sex cells called gametes (e.g., sperm and egg) in a process called fertilisation. Asexual reproduction does not involve gametes. * **Genetic Variation:** Because sexual reproduction combines genes from two parents, it produces offspring with genetic variation. In asexual reproduction, the offspring are genetically identical to the parent, so they are clones. * **Cell Division:** Sexual reproduction involves meiosis to produce the haploid gametes. Asexual reproduction in eukaryotes involves only mitosis, where a cell makes an identical copy of itself.