Explain why sexual reproduction is beneficial to a population but can be detrimental to an individual offspring.

Sexual reproduction enhances the genetic variation within the population, as new individuals are produced due to the random combination of genetic substances obtained from two parents. As only fit individuals attain sexual maturity and breed, the entire population seems to incline towards enhancing fitness in its environment. However, there is always a probability that the random combination producing the genome of the offspring will in real sense generate an offspring that is less fit for the environment in comparison to its parents.