What type of asexual reproduction does a starfish show?
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Solution
Asexual Reproduction in Starfish:
Starfish exhibit an asexual mode of reproduction through binary fission and regeneration.
Starfish is a bisexual organism and undergoes regeneration as a method for asexual reproduction.
In binary fission, the parent organism’s cell divides exactly into two genetically identical daughter cells.
During the process, the central discs present in the mature starfish break into two pieces.
Each part on either side of the disc regenerates the broken-out portion.
In case of regeneration or autotomy of arms, an arm of starfish is shed with the part of the central disc attached, that continues to live independently as a "comet", and eventually grows a new set of arms.
Autotomy of arms in starfish also occurs when its arms get damaged.
