Question

Choose the incorrect statement regarding regeneration and fragmentation.

• A. Fragmentation occurs in multicellular species with simple body organization while regeneration can occur in multicellular species with complex body plans.
• B. In fragmentation, an organism splits into fragments each of which can give rise to new organisms. In regeneration, a part of the body may be regenerated and not necessarily a whole organism.
  
• C. Fragmentation is exhibited by invertebrates while regeneration is exhibited by both vertebrates and invertebrates.
  
• D. Fragmentation involves specialised cells and complex differentiation processes to generate a whole organism while regeneration does not.

Answer 1

The correct option is D Fragmentation involves specialised cells and complex differentiation processes to generate a whole organism while regeneration does not.

Fragmentation is the process in which an organism splits into fragments and each fragment later develops into a new complete individual organism, a fragment is capable enough to give rise to an independent adult. We can observe fragmentation in Hydra, sea anemones, starfishes, etc.

Regeneration is the process of regrowth of a lost body part or tissues or a complete organism (under certain special circumstances in some organisms). We can observe regeneration in many amphibians like salamanders, lizards like geckos, etc.

Regeneration is a specialised feature of more complex body organisms, performed by specialized cells and occurs in vertebrates as well as invertebrates. Fragmentation occurs in simple body organisation and not in specialised cells. It is confined to invertebrates only.