Chapter 7, Problem 1RQ

Define asexual reproduction, and describe four forms of asexual reproduction in invertebrates.

Summary Introduction

To define: Asexual reproduction and to describe the four forms of asexual reproduction in invertebrates.

Introduction: Reproduction is the biological process through which new individual organisms are produced from their parents. It is the ubiquitous properties of life. It is essential for the evolution, since the ceaseless replacement of predecessors with new life gives animal population. There are two types of reproduction namely asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction.

Explanation of Solution

Asexual reproduction is the type of reproduction that occurs without the production of gametes. The resulting offspring have the same genetic makeup of the parent cell. There are four types of asexual reproduction that occurs in invertebrates namely fission, budding, gemmulation, and fragmentation.

Fission: The fission process consists of two types namely binary fission and multiple fission. Binary fission involves the division of a parent cell into two daughter cells. Multiple fission is the result of multiple division of the nucleus that occurs before the division of cytoplasm. Many daughter cells are produced by this process.

Budding: It is the unequal division of an organism. The new individual arises as an outgrowth from its parent cell.

Gemmulation: It is the process of formation of a new individual from an aggregation of cells surrounded by a resistant capsule called as gemmule.

Fragmentation: It is the process of breakdown of cells into two or more parts that form into an organism.