What is the Difference Between Multiple Fission and Fragmentation?

Multiple fission and fragmentation are two methods of asexual reproduction. The key differences between them are:

Occurrence: Multiple fission occurs in unicellular organisms, while fragmentation occurs in multicellular organisms.
Process: In multiple fission, the parent cell nucleus divides through mitosis many times to produce daughter nuclei, which can undergo cytokinesis and become new cells. In fragmentation, the parent organism breaks into several fragments, each of which develops into a new individual.
Nuclear Division: Multiple fission involves nuclear division, while fragmentation does not.

Examples of organisms that reproduce by multiple fission include Plasmodium and Amoeba. Fragmentation is a mode of reproduction for organisms like Spirogyra and coral, sponges, and starfish.

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What is the Difference Between Multiple Fission and Fragmentation?

Comparative Table: Multiple Fission vs Fragmentation

The difference between multiple fission and fragmentation can be summarized as follows:

Feature	Multiple Fission	Fragmentation
Definition	Multiple fission is a type of asexual reproduction in which the parent cell nucleus divides via mitosis to produce several new daughter cells.	Fragmentation is a type of asexual reproduction in which the parent organism breaks into several fragments, each of which develops into a new individual.
Occurrence	Mainly occurs in unicellular organisms such as Plasmodium, amoeba, and some protists and parasitic species.	Occurs in multicellular organisms such as Spirogyra, planaria, starfish, coral, sponges, and some plants.
Process	The nucleus of the organism divides several times mitotically, producing several nuclei. Small amounts of cytoplasm enclose these nuclei, forming daughter cells.	The parent organism breaks into distinct fragments, and each fragment develops into a new individual.
Conditions	Multiple fission occurs under unfavorable conditions.	Fragmentation can occur in both favorable and unfavorable conditions.
Cell Division	In multiple fission, the nucleus divides first and is surrounded by cytoplasm whose division occurs later.	In fragmentation, the parent body breaks into distinct fragments, and each fragment develops into a new individual.

In summary, multiple fission is a form of asexual reproduction where the parent cell divides into multiple daughter cells, mainly occurring in unicellular organisms like amoeba and protists. On the other hand, fragmentation is a form of asexual reproduction where the parent organism breaks into fragments, each developing into a new individual, and occurs in multicellular organisms like Spirogyra and planaria.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.