Single celled organisms undergo asexual reproduction, in which only one parent is involved hence the offsprings will show no variation and will be identical
Why are single celled offspring identical?
Single celled offspring are the product of Asexual Reproduction, a process involving only one parent, and therefore the offspring will be an exact clone and genetically identical to their parent cell.
- Binary Fission. The equal division of the nucleus and the cytoplasm to form two identical organisms.
- Budding. The cell divides as above, but this time the nucleus divides equally, and the cytoplasm unequally.
- Sporulation. Reproduction involving specialised cells from a single parent.
Examples of single cell offspring
We tend to associate asexual reproduction with simple organisms, but there are examples in nature with more complex animals:
- Hammerhead shark
- Female boa constrictor
- Nine-banded armadillo
Asexual reproduction differs from sexual reproduction, in which a new organism is produced by the combination of genetic material from two different organisms - ie. Two parents.