Anne's eyes are brown just like her mother's eyes. Anne has long fingers like her father, but her mother's fingers are much shorter. What is the most likely reason why Anne's appearance is similar to and different from that of her parents? Sexual reproduction increases genetic variation in an organism. Asexual reproduction is the only way to improve genetic differences within a species. Sexual reproduction of the somatic cells caused a mistake in the cell cycle. During asexual reproduction the gametes were inhibited due to a mistake in the cell cycle.