Reproduction in Amoeba

Amoeba is a protist and belongs to a group of protist referred to as protozoa.

Habitat: It lives in , ditches, ponds mud among others.

Reproduction: Amoeba reproduces asexually in two different ways. Binary fission and Sporulation 

Binary fission; it involves  in the division of a single cell into two identical new cells. Amoeba reproduces by binary fission every three days under favourably conditions. When the organism grows to a certain maximum size,it stops moving. It then assumes a spherical shape. The nucleus elongates and and divides into two identical parts. This is followed by the constriction of the cytoplasm, which divides into two equal portions, with each portion enclosing one nucleus. Finally two identical amoebae are formed .

Sporulation: This usually happen when the conditions for reproduction is unfavorable ( when the pond is dry or food is scarce) ,Amoeba assumes a round shape and develops a protective coat called cyst around itself. It then remains dormant inside the coat until the environment becomes normal, where the cyst bursts and the organism assumes normal activities. Sometimes the cyst does not release one amoeba but rather many amoebae as a result of the original amoeba dividing several times during it's dormant period. New amoebae are referred to as spores

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