Question

Where does asexual reproduction of Plasmodium occur?

Answer 1

Asexual reproduction:

1. Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction where a single parent produces a new progeny.
2. The new persons created are genetically and physically identical to their parents, i.e., they are clones.
3. Both multicellular and unicellular species exhibit asexual reproduction.

Asexual reproduction of Plasmodium:

1. Plasmodium reproduces in two ways: asexually and sexually. It's a digenetic species, meaning it goes through its entire life cycle in two different hosts.
2. The female anopheles mosquito is the principal host, and sexual reproduction occurs through the fusion of male and female gametocytes.
3. Mosquitoes that live inside the salivary glands and feed on sporozoites inject them into the circulation of a host vertebrate.
4. These sporozoites are subsequently taken by the blood to the liver, where they enter hepatocytes and begin the exoerythrocytic cycle, a stage of asexual reproduction.