What type of reproduction results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent?

Asexual reproduction is the method through which offspring are produced from a single parent organism and are genetically identical to that parent. This process involves various mechanisms, such as binary fission, budding, or vegetative propagation, depending on the organism. Since only one parent is involved, there is no mixing of genetic material, leading to clones of the original organism.

In contrast, sexual reproduction requires the genetic contribution from two parents, resulting in offspring with a combination of genes from both, creating genetic diversity. Hybrid reproduction typically refers to the offspring resulting from the crossbreeding of two different species or varieties, which also leads to genetic differences. Clonal reproduction, while similar to asexual reproduction in producing genetically identical offspring, often refers to specific processes in plants or certain organisms but is not a distinct type of reproduction on its own. Therefore, asexual reproduction is the clear choice for producing offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.