Question

Can sponges reproduce sexually?

Answer 1

Sexual reproduction

1. It occurs between two parents by the fusion of haploid male and female gametes.
2. The offspring is genetically non-identical to their parent.
3. It involves the formation of the diploid embryo that develops the whole adult.
4. Humans, fish, snakes, insects, mollusks, etc are some that undergo sexual mode of reproduction.

Sponges

1. They belong to the phylum Porifera which constitutes multicellular organisms that have a cellular level of body organization.
2. They lack tissues and structurally similar cells aggregate to perform similar functions.
3. They are mostly sedentary and are mostly hermaphrodite i.e they have both male and female gametes producing organs in the same individual.
4. Sponges can reproduce both in asexual and sexual mode but usually prefers sexual reproduction.
5. They are hermaphrodites and in some species, the development of male and female gametes takes place at different times.
6. During sexual reproduction in sponges, the sperms produced are released into the water through the osculum.
7. These sperm cells may then enter the female body through pores and are trapped by collar cells which are then transferred to the egg for fertilization forming a zygote.
8. The zygote develops into a motile larva that is ciliated and swims in water to find a suitable spot for further growth.
9. As they mature they become sedentary and lose the ability the move like adult sponges and later they attain sexual maturity producing sperms and the cycle continues.
10. They can also undergo asexual reproduction by budding or by fragmentation.