Sexual reproduction is the most common way by which organisms multiply and pass on their genes.
But its popularity has long remained a mystery to biologists. Populations that reproduce sexually grow much slower than asexually reproducing ones. There can be tremendous hassles in attracting a mate. And unlike asexual reproduction, in which an individual passes on its full set of genes to its offspring, sexual reproduction requires pooling one's genes with those of a mate. This genetic reshuffling can break up winning genetic combinations and result in considerably less fit offspring.