Question

Press a sponge through a coarse cloth bag and extrude the whole cells through the holes. The cells then:
A. reproduce sexually
B. die from being separated
C. form spicules in the pattern of the cloth
D. reassemble into a new organised sponge with each cell resuming its original job

Answer 1

Hint: Sponges show both sexual as well as asexual modes of reproduction in order to produce new individuals (or sponges). Mostly sponges reproduce asexually by means of regeneration, budding, fragmentation, and others. The formation of sex cells (sperms and oocytes) occurs prior before cross-fertilization occurring during sexual reproduction in sponges.

Complete answer:
The sponges have a unique ability to regenerate. Thus, this helps to repair the damaged or lost parts of the sponge. In fact, a small fragment or even a single cell can also form an adult organism by the means of regeneration. The ability of regeneration is mainly responsible for making it almost impossible to kill a sponge.

Some physical or mechanical methods, such as pressing the sponge through a coarse cloth bag and others, can be used for the separation of sponge cells. These separated cells (amoebocytes) can then form a complete individual due to regeneration capability of the sponge cells. Furthermore, the cells begin to perform their respective specialized functions. In addition to this, the regeneration ability is also helpful in rebuilding the structure or the part that had been lost earlier.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

On extruding the whole cells via holes after pressing a sponge through a coarse cloth bag, the cells are then likely to reassemble into a new organized sponge having cells capable of resuming their functions.

Note: Amoebocytes are often referred to the cells separated on squeezing a piece of sponge through a fine cloth. These sponge cells have an ability to reunite, and develop canals that are present in the sponges. This is further followed by development of flagellated chamber and skeleton resulting in the formation of a new sponge.