explain the evolutionary significance of this switch from asexual to sexual reproduction.?

Answer 1

Asexual reproduction yields uniform offspring. Sexual reproduction yields diversity. So an adverse condition will not kill all the individuals in a population.

Answer 2

organisms that reproduce asexually create a perfect copy of themselves every time. when the reproductive task is distributed between two organisms, only half of the genes are used from each organism, to create a new unique organism.

if an organisms genetic makeup remains stable over a long period of time. it will become prey to other organisms that will incorporate it into their survival strategies.

example; a virus will adapt itself to such a stable organism and hijack its cells to create more viruses. its like a person at a combination lock, if you try ever possible combination, eventually you will find the one you need to get in.

by mixing up your dna sequences for each new generation, its like changing the locks on the door to you immune system.

there also the advantage of mutation, the organisms that can find an advantageous ability, will live longer, and succeed at getting more resources and reproduce more often, thereby passing on more of its genes for success to the next generation.