Question

Name the method by which hydra reproduces? Is this method sexual or asexual?

Answer 1

Hint: Hydra is a freshwater Cnidarian. They do not die of old age as they have the power to regenerate. They are invertebrates and can produce exact copies of themselves through reproduction.

Complete answer:
Hydra is a radially symmetrical organism that thrives in aquatic habitats. The body of this organism is long tubular and has an adhesive foot like structure called the basal disc. They have gland cells that secrete a sticky fluid which helps in adhesion. The mouth of the organism is surrounded by several tentacles which are mobile and have clinging cells called nematocysts. These organisms reproduce by the method of budding. These organisms use regenerative cells for reproduction.

The hydra develops an outgrowth of the bud which is the result of repeated cell division at a specific site. This outgrowth is formed by the regenerative cells. These buds develop into small hydra. After complete maturation, they detach from the parent body and become an independent individual.

The budding is a type of asexual reproduction as the intermixing of the gametes do not take place. The offspring produced is genetically similar to that of the parent. This process is similar to vegetative reproduction in the case of plants.

So, we can conclude that the reproduction in hydra is carried out by the method of budding which is an asexual mode of reproduction.

Note: Yeast also reproduces by the method of budding. It is the asymmetric division in the case of yeast. The yeast divides asexually when the nutrition is abundant. The cell divides and splits into two.