Asexual and sexual reproduction in female copperhead snakes can be classified as facultative parthenogenetic species. They are classified under this species because female copperhead snakes are known to give offspring birth without coming into contact with other male counterparts ( Booth & Schuett, 2016) . This factor disclaims that asexual reproduction does take place only in invertebrates.
In asexual reproduction, the female copperhead snake does not require any counterpart to reproduce. The parthenogenesis process results from the development of eggs that are unfertilized. Hence, female copperhead snakes are considered clones since they are offspring of two ovaries and no male counterpart to offer its testes. This condition can end up creating the state of homozygosity, which states that parthenogenetic process may turn into automixis ( Jordan, Perrine-Ripplinger & Carter, 2015) . In this case, the automixis condition results when chromosomes divide to form a division of diploid center.
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In contrast, sexual reproduction in female copperhead snakes comprises of gamete union that is derived from the male and female counterparts. Compared to asexual, sexual reproduction in the female copperhead snakes depend on meiosis. The division of meiosis is usually created from four cells originating from the gamete. Through meiosis, the female copperhead snakes can reproduce sexually because there is diversity increase in the process. In this case, sexual reproduction increases diversity because the process of crossing over allows genetic combination. Additionally, increase in diversity ends up increasing the rate of gametes acquired from the offspring.
I believe that sexual reproduction is the best method for the female copperhead because it results in genetic variation. The Gregor Mendel theory states that genes that originate from different units can end up reproducing. Thus, each gene from different parents can be inherited. In this case, sexual reproduction of the female copperhead snakes tends to be between different parents for it to reproduce.
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References
Booth, W., & Schuett, G. W. (2016). The emerging phylogenetic pattern of parthenogenesis in snakes. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 118 (2), 172-186.
Jordan, M. A., Perrine-Ripplinger, N., & Carter, E. T. (2015). An independent observation of facultative parthenogenesis in the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). Journal of Herpetology , 49 (1), 118-121.
