Question

asexual vs. sexual reproduction assignment
read the information below about the amoeba and answer the questions:

1. number of parents required.
2. type of reproduction.
3. amount of parental care.
4. genetic variation of the offspring.
5. anything interesting about this organisms way of reproducing.

reproductive strategies
animal profile:
amoeba (amoeba proteus)
take a look through a microscope at a drop of healthy pond water. youll likely find a ton of one - celled organisms zooming about. some of these cells move by fluttering tiny hair - like cilia. others propel themselves with large whip - like flagella. youll also come across blobby cells that creep about and engulf other cells with their bodies. these one - celled critters are amoebas, and they move and feed by extending pseudopodia (false feet). to move, an amoeba reaches pseudopodia away from its edges and anchors them at their tips. the cells insides stream into the pseudopodia until the entire amoeba has slurped into a new place.
amoebas live all over, from oceans to soil. they play an important ecological role by making meals of the huge numbers of bacteria, algae, and small protists found on this planet. one common amoeba is the giant amoeba, amoeba proteus. giant amoebas reproduce by binary fission, a fancy word that means splitting in two. when a giant amoeba begins to divide, it pulls its pseudopodia in to form a kind of ball. after its nucleus doubles, the amoeba constricts in the middle, as if a belt were being pulled tight around it. finally, the two new cells pinch apart, send out pseudopodia, and slink away from each other. in this way, two identical \daughter\ cells are made from one. when conditions are right, this amoeba can divide every 48 hours.

Explanation:

1. For the number of parents required: Amoebas reproduce asexually, so only one parent is involved.
2. Type of reproduction: Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction.
3. Amount of parental care: In asexual reproduction (binary fission here), there is no parental care as the parent cell simply divides.
4. Genetic variation of the offspring: Since it's asexual (binary fission), offspring are genetically identical to the parent, so no genetic variation.
5. Interesting aspect: Can divide every 48 hours under right conditions.

Answer:

1. One parent.
2. Asexual reproduction (binary fission).
3. None.
4. No genetic variation (offspring are clones).
5. Can divide every 48 hours when conditions are right.