Question

What is multiple fission? How does it occur in an organism? Explain briefly. Name one organism which exhibits this type of reproduction.

Answer 1

Fission is an asexual method of reproduction in unicellular (single-celled) organisms. In fission, an individual divides into two or more new individuals. Fission is of two types: binary fission and multiple fission.

Complete Answer:
(I) Multiple fission is an asexual method of reproduction in organisms. In multiple fission, many daughter cells are produced from the single parent cell.
The process of multiple fission involves following steps:
a. During unfavorable conditions such as lack of food, oxygen, excessive heat, cold or drought etc. a cyst or protective wall is formed around the parent cell.
b. Inside the protective wall (cyst), the nucleus of the parent cell divides several times to produce a large number of nuclei known as daughter nuclei. Small amount of cytoplasm is accumulated around each daughter nuclei
c. A thin membrane is formed around each of them.
d. As a result, many daughter cells are formed inside the cyst.
e. Under favorable conditions, the cyst breaks and the daughter cells are released. All the daughter cells are identical. Each daughter cell gives rise to a new organism.
Thus, multiple fission results in producing large numbers of offspring.

(II) Plasmodium is a microscopic and single-celled organism which reproduces by means of multiple fission. A large number of daughter cells (about 1000) are produced by the multiple fission of a single Plasmodium cell. Plasmodium is a malaria parasite which is responsible for disease like malaria in human beings.

Note: Multiple fission is a process by which a large number of organisms are produced from a single parent. It is an asexual method of reproduction.