To reproduce, female elephants produce eggs and male elephants produce sperm. Offspring are produced by the fusion of an egg with a sperm cell. Which statement is true about the offspring? A. The offspring are genetically distinct from the parents because the egg and sperm are both diploid. B. The offspring are genetically identical to the parents because the egg and sperm are both diploid. C. The offspring are genetically distinct from the parents because they are produced by sexual reproduction. D. The offspring are genetically identical to the parents because they are produced by sexual reproduction.

Producing gametes like egg and sperm is a characteristic feature of organisms who reproduce sexually. Sexual reproduction is much more advantageous than asexual reproduction because in sexual reproduction variations are generated due to a phenomenon known as crossing over. Crossing over is the reason why progeny are not exact replica of their parents and have variations. Variations are very important because if all the members of a particular species are exactly the same then during sudden climate change they all may be wiped -off because they all being exactly the same have same tolerance power. But if members of a population have variations then some of them may have ability to withstand extreme climatic conditions and even if suddenly climate changes or a natural calamity occurs then at least some of the members of that species will survive and will be able to continue their generations.