Biology unit 4: asexual reproduction

Budding

A kind of asexual reproduction involving the growth of a new individual from part of an older person.

Multiple fission

A cell undergoes many mitotic divisions in the nucleus and a number of daughter cells are produced all at once.

Colony

A group of organisms attached to one another after undergoing asexual reproduction from a common parent.

Protist

A one- or few-celled organism with chromosomes.

Binary fission

A phenomenon in which a one-celled organism divides by mitosis into two organisms. Also the simplest form of asexual reproduction.

Spore

A small, resistant cell that can grow into a new organism. They may be produced by either mitosis or meiosis.

Conidia

A special kind of asexual spore found in many kinds of fungi.

Regeneration

Organisms break into two or more parts and then each part grows into a new individual.

Four principal advantages of asexual reproduction

Reproduction at a rapid rate, reproduction in harsh climates, reproduction with only one parent, reproduction genetically of identical offspring.

Propagation

The act of propagating or establishing and growing new plants.

Central disks

The central portion of a starfish.

Unicellular

one-celled.