Which of the following does NOT play a role in maintaining the health of an organism? (A) Mitosis (B) Cell death (C) Gene expression (D) Sexual reproduction - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 4 - 2015 - Paper 1

To determine which option does NOT contribute to maintaining the health of an organism, we must analyze each choice:

• Mitosis: This is the process of cell division, crucial for growth, repair, and overall maintenance of tissues in an organism. Hence, it plays a significant role in health.

• Cell death: This refers to programmed cell death (apoptosis), which is a necessary process for maintaining cellular health and removing damaged cells. Thus, it also plays a key role in maintaining health.

• Gene expression: This involves the process by which information from a gene is used to synthesize functional gene products, like proteins. Proper gene expression is essential for cellular function and overall organismal health.

• Sexual reproduction: While vital for the continuation of a species and genetic diversity, it does not directly maintain the health of an individual organism. Instead, it's a reproductive strategy.

Therefore, the correct answer, which does NOT play a role in maintaining the health of an organism, is (D) Sexual reproduction.