In which type of reproduction do offspring inherit a mix of traits from both parents?

Sexual reproduction is characterized by the combination of genetic material from two parents, which results in offspring that inherit a mix of traits from both. In this process, male and female gametes combine through fertilization, leading to genetic variation in the resulting offspring. This variation is crucial for evolution and adaptation, as it provides a broader array of traits on which natural selection can act.

In contrast, asexual reproduction involves only one parent and produces offspring that are genetically identical to that parent, thereby lacking genetic diversity. Vegetative propagation is a form of asexual reproduction seen in plants, where new individuals grow from fragments of the parent plant, again resulting in clones rather than a mix of traits. Fission, commonly found in single-celled organisms, is another form of asexual reproduction where an organism divides into two or more parts, creating identical offspring. Therefore, the defining feature of sexual reproduction, which allows for the inheritance of mixed traits, distinguishes it clearly from the other forms of reproduction.