Budding

Definition

Budding is a form of asexual reproduction where a new organism develops from an outgrowth or bud due to cell division at one particular site. This process can be seen in various organisms, including viruses and certain animals like hydras.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Budding results in genetically identical offspring since it involves mitotic cell division.
2. Viruses such as HIV use budding to exit the host cell, taking some of the host's membrane with them.
3. In animal reproduction, organisms like sponges and corals utilize budding to propagate.
4. Budding can occur in both unicellular and multicellular organisms.
5. This process allows for rapid population increase without the need for a mate.

Review Questions

• What is the primary advantage of budding in terms of genetic consistency?
• How do viruses utilize the budding mechanism during infection?
• Name an example of an animal that reproduces through budding.

Related terms

Mitosis: A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus.

Asexual Reproduction: A mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single organism, inheriting the genes of that parent only.

Binary Fission: A type of asexual reproduction common among prokaryotes where a cell divides into two genetically identical cells.