Binary Fission in Amoeba

Binary Fission in Amoeba
Topics covered are
What is an amoeba?
What is binary fission?
Binary fission in amoeba
Advantages of binary fission
Disadvantages of binary fission

Amoeba is an unicellular or single-cell organism. It can change its shape. Amoeba does not have cell walls, which allows for free movement.

Main organelles present in amoeba are
1. Pseudopodia: It is also known as the false feet of amoeba.
The main functions of pseudopodia are locomotion or movement and uptake of food particles.
2. Plasmagel: The plasmagel of amoeba is the outer part of the cytoplasm. It is thicker and is gelatinous thus helping in movement.
3. Plasmasol: It is the inner emulsion part of the cytoplasm in the amoeba. It has suspended vacuoles and granules.
4. Ectoplasm: Gives the elastic support for the cell membrane. Contains actin and myosin microfilaments.
5. Water vacuoles: They are the type of contractile vacuoles.
6. Food vacuoles: These are vacuoles that have digestive functions. Hence the ingested matter is slowly broken down by the enzyme like lysosomes.
7. Nucleus: It directs the cell activities like reproduction, growth, and other functions.
8. Contractile vacuoles: These are osmoregulatory organelles. It controls intracellular water and other solute particles. Also, regulate the osmotic pressure.

Binary fission is an asexual reproduction process.
In which a cell or a body divides into two new bodies or two daughter cells

Binary fission in amoeba
Binary fission in amoeba is a type of asexual reproduction where two identical offspring are produced by only one parent amoeba.
Binary fission involves the replication of the nucleus first then the cytoplasm and finally splits into two cells.

Advantages of binary fission
Faster method of reproduction.
Produces more number of daughter cells in no time.
A single parent is involved in this process.
The daughter cells are identical copies of the parent cell

Disadvantages of binary fission
Results in the creation of identical offspring.
Thus, lack of genetic variability.
Can be detrimental to the species as a whole
Advantages of binary fission