What are the advantages and disadvantages of self-fertilization versus those of outcrossing?

Video transcript

Hey everyone, let's take a look at this question together. Which of the following statements is true about self fertilized plants. So let's recall what we've learned about what this means when a plant is self fertilized. So we know that self fertilization means that they do not require someone else to fertilize that plant like a pollinator. So they don't need a pollinator because pollinators are used for fertilization and in this case because it's self fertilized, they don't need that pollinator. And also because it is self fertilized, there is no crossing over of genes because self fertilization is just the re shuffling of chromosomes. And so they don't do any kind of gene crossing over. And so that leads to less genetic diversity since the only genes that are present are that of the plant already. So there's no genetic diversity which we know that when there's less genetic diversity, it means that we have a restricted gene flow and because of that restricted gene flow, they are more susceptible to something like natural selection. And so they are less flexible to any kind of environmental change. And so because there's no crossing over and we have less genetic diversity. They have that preserved race because they are only using the same genes that are found within themselves since it is self fertilization. And so the only answer choice here, that is correct. It's answer choice. Their race is preserved because they are self fertilized. So they don't rely on pollinators, they have less genetic diversity which causes a restricted gene flow. So they are not subjected to continuous gene flow and because of that restricted gene flow, they're more susceptible to natural selection, so they're actually less flexible to any environmental change. And so answer choice A is the only one here. That is correct. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.