advantages of human reproduction system?

[Mahdrek]

I'm involved in a school project for extra marks. I have to get some information on the advantages and disadvantages of the human reproduction system

I'm having a hard time figuring out what the advantages are, all i can find is the one: that the DNA of offspring is significantly different, therefore species can change more rapidly than through mutation alone

Any help would be appreciated, thank you

[Dr.Stein]

Because human reproductive system is mainly a sexual one, so there will be a gene (DNA) recombination from parents. What do you mean by "the DNA of offspring is significantly different"?? Nah, the DNA of their offsprings is a mixture between DNA of their parents.

The advantage of every reproductiove system is, of course, to establish their existance by bearing offsprings.
As a sexual reproduction, the disadvantage is, one of them, that the DNA of their offspings is different from their parents because of the mixture I already told above.

[Navin]

An advantage, like above mentioned, is that there will be variation in the offspring, allowing offspring to survive when environment changes. Also good qualities from both parents may be inherited.

A disadvantage would be that 2 parents are required. Also, unfavourable qualities may be inherited.

[rambo]

advantages: genes are more possible to transport acurately.
disadvantage: genes that create a problem are transfer acurately too;therefore, it tranfers problem such as cancer to its offspring. unless an inversion mutation happens making the genes read different. which then a mutation would be an advantage.
as any living organism mutations are a possible advantage and disadvantage. yet mutations occur less in humans than other species.

[biostudent84]

Err....it sounds like the teacher is asking for advantages of the actual human reproductive system...not the advantage to the idea of sexual reproduction.

An advantage off the top of my head is that it is "fun" therefore making humans more apt to reproduce.

A disadvantage is that most offspring concieved in this manner die without anyone knowing that the offspring existed in the first place. (4 out of 5 pregnancies miscarry without the mother even knowing she was pregnant)

[canalon]

An other thing is that woman are fertile once a month, when most animals have much more limited reproductive period:
advantage: more offspring
disadvantage: If the food supply run short or the condition of living become hard, babies born that season may have decreased chance of survival.

[biostudent84]

An other thing is that woman are fertile once a month, when most animals have much more limited reproductive period:
advantage: more offspring

That also helps conserve eggs and extend the overall time when a woman is fertile in her entire lifetime. Instead of being extremely fertile for a few years, they are fairly fertile over (approximately) 40 years.

[Dr.Stein]

Hey this leads me to recall a fun fact about human sexual reproduction function. My teacher in high school told me about this:
When animal sexual reproduction means only to reproduce, human sexual reproduction could has three goals: reproduction, recreation, and commercial

[Mahdrek]

thank you for all the replys, this will help alot