Question

State the type of reproduction of multiple fission in Amoeba giving reason. How is regeneration different from this type of reproduction? State the major differences.

Answer 1

Hint: Amoeba is a unicellular eukaryote that reproduces by binary fission and in some cases by multiple fission to survive and reproduce when environmental conditions are not favorable. The term regeneration stands for the act of being regenerated. It mostly takes place in multicellular organisms.

Complete answer:
Multiple fission in Amoeba is an asexual mode of reproduction because, in this process, the fusion of gametes does not take place, as only a single parent is involved to carry out this fission process to produce the offsprings.
Major differences between multiple fission and regeneration:

Multiple fission	Regeneration
1) It is an asexual mode of reproduction.	It is not a mode of reproduction but in this process, broken or damaged parts of an organism can regenerate into a whole organism.
2) The division of the nucleus takes place.	The division of the nucleus does not take place.
3) Takes place in unicellular organisms.	It takes place in multicellular organisms.
4) Repeated division of cytoplasm takes place to carry out the process of multiple fission.	Specialized cells in the body are known to carry out the process of regeneration.
5) Example: Amoeba.	Example: Planaria.

Additional Information: During unfavorable conditions, multiple fission takes place in Amoeba. In this process, Amoeba withdraws its pseudopodia and becomes round. This structure secretes a hard covering called a cyst and within this cyst, the nucleus divides very rapidly giving rise to many nuclei. This nuclear division is then followed by cytoplasmic division. When conditions become favorable, the cyst breaks open releasing many offsprings.

Note: Amoeba reproduces by an asexual mode of reproduction i.e., primarily by binary fission (single parent giving rise to two offsprings) but sometimes by multiple fission (single parent giving rise to many offsprings).
Regeneration, on the other hand, is different from multiple fission because it is not a mode of reproduction but rather it is an accidental process in which damaged parts or tissues get regenerated.