Question

Define asexual reproduction. Describe two methods of asexual reproduction in animals.

Answer 1

Asexual reproduction is a mode of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of the male and the female gamete. It requires only one parent, and the offsprings produced are exact copies of their parents.

Two methods of asexual reproduction in animals are:

(i) Binary fission:

It is a type of asexual reproduction in which a single cell divides into two halves. Organisms that reproduce through binary fission are bacteria and Amoeba. In Amoeba, the division of cells can take place in any plane. It involves the division of its nucleus into two nuclei, which is followed by the division of its body into two halves. Each half of the body receives a nucleus.

Binary fission in Amoeba

(ii) Budding:

Budding involves the formation of a new individual from the bulges, known as buds formed on the parent body. This method of reproduction is common in Hydra.In Hydra, thecells divide rapidly at a specific site and develop as an outgrowth, called the bud. These buds, while being attached to the parent plant, develop into smaller individuals. When these individuals become mature enough, they detach from the parent’s body and become independent individuals.

Budding in Yeast