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Fragmentation is defined as the breaking of cells into separate parts and forming new bodies of organisms. It is a type of asexual reproduction. Fragmentation is one of the major procedures which take place in multicellular living bodies.
- Fragmentation takes place when an organism reaches the stage of maturation.
- Each part has the ability to fully grow into a mature clone that is identical to its parents.
- The process takes place when conditions are favourable and nutrient is available.
- Fragmentation takes place with respect to natural causes like environmental changes, wind, or even by animals.
- Humans also use it for generating artificial plants.
- The process is common in non-vascular plants.
- Spirogyra, Molds, and Lichens are some organisms in which fragmentation takes place.
Read More: Reproduction in Plants
Key Terms: Fragmentation, Asexual Reproduction, Reproduction, Maturation, Organisms, Cells, Molds, Plants, Spirogyra, Fungi, Nutrients
Fragmentation in Plants
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In plants, fragmentation is a very ordinary type of vegetative reproduction. Rhizomes or stolons are produced to generate new roots and shoots to increase the diameter of trees, shrubs, non-wood perennials, and ferns to form coral colonies. When a rooted shoot separated from the colony, fragmentation took place.
Generation of highly specialized reproductive bodies
Some plants release adventitious plantlets on the leaves, which fall apart and form a new plant. A few examples of this type of reproduction are bulbils and turions.
Loss of potential growing plants
Woody plants, which are called cladoptosis, twigs naturally. Lost parts may generate the roots of a new plant in appropriate environments. This twig caused the establishment of a new plant in nature.
- Plants like cactus have stems attached, which can root and create a new plant when the stem falls off.
- Fragments can root and generate new plants in our environment.
Observed in non-vascular plants
Fragmentation in non-vascular plants takes place in liverworts and mosses. Natural causes like wind, water or animals diffuse tiny parts of mosses' leaves. Recreation of the new plant occurs when the moss fragment reaches a suitable environment. They also release gemmae.
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Fragmentation in Animals
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Reproduction in animals like sponges and corals fragment colonies happens naturally. Many species of annelids and flatworms reproduce by this method. When a fragment occurs due to specific growth changes, architomy, budding and paratomy terms are used.
Architomy
In architomy, the animal breaks at a particular point, and the two parts regenerate the missing organs and tissues. Before breaking off, the animal may develop furrows in the breaking point area. For headless fragments, a full head must be re-growed.
Paratomy
In paratomy, the anteroposterior axis has tears that occur perpendicular to it. In the posterior portion, the treatment is preceded by "regeneration" of the anterior structure. The two organisms develop in a way from head to tail.
Budding
In budding, the method is the same as the paratomy except the concept of developing from head to tail. The new head grows backward or may grow sideways.
Read More: Lamina of a Plant Leaf
Fragmentation in Fungi
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Fungi like moulds, mushrooms and yeasts undergo a fragmentation process. They release small filaments called hyphae. They consume food and nutrients from other organisms for the development and growth.
- After becoming mature, they are prepared to be fertile.
- Later, a part of the hyphae breaks off from the mature body and arrives at the growth point as a single body.
- They also grow into a new one, and the cycle continues.
Read More: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells
Fragmentation in Lichens
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Fragmentation takes place in algae and cyanobacteria. This type of organism develops in mutualistic relations between different types of fungi's body parts. Lichens are found in various colours, shapes and sizes.
- Some of the lichens generate special structures which can be easily broken.
- This structure involves mycobiont hyphae and algae.
- When the lichen dries, these larger thallus fragments start breaking up.
- It can also happen due to phenomenal issues.
Read More: Difference Between Cross-Pollination and Self Pollination
Examples of Fragmentation
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Some of the other examples of fragmentation are as follows:
Coral
The number of coral colonies can grow by natural and artificial fragmentation. To balance the shape control, regeneration, damages, etc, of the aquarium lives, enthusiasts regularly fragment corals. Hard and soft corals are possible to fragment.
Echinoderms
In Echinoderms, the reproduction process is called fissiparity. Some of the species reproduce in an autonomous manner. In the larval editing stage, the process is much ordinary.
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Things To Remember
- Fragmentation is a process in which an organism splits into fragments after reaching the maturation stage.
- The process takes place due to environmental damage caused by predators.
- Since it involves the splitting of fragments, hence it is called splitting.
- This type of reproduction is seen in organisms like liches, moulds, sponges, sea stars, earthworms, etc.
- Fragmentation can take place in hard corals and soft corals.
Sample Questions
Ques: What are the disadvantages of fragmentation? (4 marks)
Ans. The various disadvantages of fragmentation are as follows:
- Since genetic variation is not possible, the transfer of genetic diseases can occur in such cases.
- Since many offspring can be created in a short amount of time, the problem of overpopulation may arise.
- The clones produced by the parent cells are weak.
- The defence mechanism of clones is weaker in comparison to new predators.
- Since they cannot easily adapt to the environment, this may lead to the elimination of offspring.
Ques: What are the advantages of fragmentation? (4 marks)
Ans. Various advantages of fragmentation are mentioned below:
- It helps in the reproduction of new organisms where only a single parent is involved.
- The process of reproduction takes place in less amount of time.
- Since DNA cloning takes place as a result, a large number of clones are formed.
- Fragmentation reduces the high-energy mating process.
- The traits of the parents are preserved in the offspring.
- It can occur and progress in any environmental condition.
Ques: Why is fragmentation impossible in all multicellular organisms? (3 marks)
Ans. Fragmentation is impossible in all multicellular organisms due to different levels of complexity. There is a proper place for tissue and organs. Lizards can grow their tail or legs if they lose it, but in the case of their hindlimb or forelimb, they cannot regrow it.
- Multicellular organisms cannot divide cell by cell.
- They do not have a random collection of cells.
- In these organisms, tissues are not placed in the proper position in the body.
- This will also not generate specialized cells in the body.
Ques: How is fragmentation responsible for biodiversity loss? (2 marks)
Ans. The extinction of species and the reduction of species in a given habitat is responsible for biodiversity loss. It is one of the disadvantages of habitat fragmentation, where genetic diversity is affected. The diversity is reduced as genetic drift takes place at a faster rate. This, in turn, increases the mortality rate among animals, which in turn increases their chance of being hunted by other predators.
Ques: What is the role of fragmentation in biological cells? (2 marks)
Ans. Fragmentation plays a major role in biological cells for DNA cloning and apoptosis. Part of the origin transfers from the main structure to the fragment in DNA cloning, and dead cell decay occurs in apoptosis. It then recognizes a small sequence of pairs called restriction sites, which can create both split and stranded types of fragments. If splitting takes place before preparation, then in such cases, both fragments are able to generate complete organisms.
Ques: What is the difference between fragmentation and regeneration? (5 marks)
Ans. The difference between fragmentation and regeneration are as follows:
| Fragmentation | Regeneration |
|---|---|
| In the process of fragmentation, the organism breaks into various parts and each of the parts develop a new one. | In the process of regeneration, the organism regenerates their particular part of their body which is destroyed somehow. |
| Each split part develops a new single one. | No new organism is developed by this method. |
| This method is limited to some organisms. | This method is seen in all organisms which can regenerate their body. |
| Fragmentation is mainly seen in plants. | Regeneration is mainly seen in animals. |
| This method is seen in invertebrates. | This method is seen in both vertebrates and invertebrates |
Ques: What is cladoptosis? How does it help in the process of fragmentation? (3 marks)
Ans. Cladoptosis is a process in which branches shed the leaves of trees. It is based on three types of functions, including self-pruning, a type of plant senescence. It also includes drought response, which is characteristic of xerophytes and liana defence. The leaves are shed when they become shaded or suffer from any diseases.
- Woody plants, which are called cladoptosis, twigs naturally.
- Lost parts may generate the roots of a new plant in appropriate environments.
- This twig caused the establishment of a new plant in nature.
Ques: What is the difference between fragmentation and budding? (4 marks)
Ans. The difference between fragmentation and budding are as follows:
| Fragmentation | Budding |
|---|---|
| In the process of fragmentation, the organism breaks into various parts and each of the parts develop a new one. | In budding, new organisms is formed from the outgrowth of bud due to the process of cell division. |
| It take place in multicellular organism. | It take place in multicellular and unicellular organism. |
| Fragmentation produces multiple daughter cells. | Budding produces only one daughter cells. |
| It take place in fungi, planaria and lichens. | It take place in yeast and amoeba. |
Ques: What are the steps of fragmentation? (3 marks)
Ans. The steps of fragmentation are as follows:
- In the first step, the breaking or amputation of parts of the parent's body parts takes place.
- Fragments will start growing in the new organisms.
- The fragments that become fully developed will mature into new individuals.
- They are ready for the process of reproduction.
Ques: Explain the fragmentation process in spirogyra and planaria? (4 marks)
Ans.
Fragmentation Process in Spirogyra: In the fragmentation of spirogyra, filaments are broken down into multiple fragments. The breaking of filaments takes place by the dissolution of the middle lamella between cells. It will later undergo a miotic division process. This will give rise to new filaments that will form an adult filament.Fragmentation in Planaria: In the fragmentation of planaria, the body of the flatworm splits into different numbers of fragments. These fragments will grow after they are placed in a suitable environment.
Ques: What is the differenece between asexual and sexual reproduction? (4 marks)
Ans. The difference between asexual and sexual reproduction are as follows:
| Asexual Reproduction | Sexual Reproduction |
|---|---|
| In asexual reproduction, only one single parent is involved in the formation of offspring. | In sexual reproduction,both parents are involved in the formation of offspring. |
| In this category, eggs of organisms are not fertilised. | In this category, eggs of organisms are fertilised. |
| It will not produce any type of gamete. | It will produce any type of gamete. |
| In this type of reproduction, hereditary material are not mixed. | In this type of reproduction, hereditary material are mixed. |
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