Question
Why would an individual waste energy on a process it does not need to stay alive?
Solution
Reproductive process is not essential for an individual. But it is very necessary for the continuity of the species. Reproduction performs following functions:
(i) In the process of reproduction one generation of living organisms produces the next generation i.e., parents produce offspring like themselves. Thus, this process preserves a species and maintains continuity of the race.
(ii) Reproduction is also the means of increasing the population of a species.
(iii) Reproduction plays an important role in evolution by transmitting favourable variation from parents to offspring.
