REPRODUCTION IN PROTISTS
Dr. Joyita Das
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Zoology
REPRODUCTION IN PROTISTS
Protists are simple eukaryotes.
They have short generation time and rapid
rate of reproduction.
A major aspect of Protist success is their great
and variable range of reproductive strategies.
Most Protists have been able to capitalize on
the advantages of both asexual and sexual
reproduction although some reproduce only
asexually.
TYPES OF REPRODUCTION
• Mode of reproduction variable in different
groups :
• I ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION
• II SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
ASEXUAL REPROUCTION
• It involves the mitotic division of the parent
body into two or more individuals that
develop into the mature or adult form.
• Since these are unicellular it can simply be
called a type of cell division.
• It involves a single parent.
• By definition it does not generate a new
genotype.
• It does not involve meiosis or fertilization.
TYPES OF ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION
• It is of the following
types:
1 Binary fission
2 Multiple fission
3 Budding
4 Plasmotomy
5 Endopolyogeny
6 Regenration
BINARY FISSION
• It involves a single mitotic division resulting
into two progenies.
• It results into two similar or equal progeny.
• It may be of the following types:
i Simple binary fission
ii Longitudinal binary fission
iii Transverse binary fission
iv Oblique binary fission
SIMPLE BINARY FISSION
• In this type of binary
fission the plane of
division can not be
recognized eg Amoeba.
• Nuclear division is
followed by cytokinesis.
• Nucleus divides by mitosis
which is closed i.e.
nuclear membrane
remains intact
throughout mitosis.
LONGITUDINAL BINARY FISSION
• In this the plane of axis of
division is along the
longitudinal axis of the
body.
• It cuts between the rows
of basal bodies.
• The progenies look
similar to the parent
except in size.
• Eg- Euglena,Trypanosoma
TRANSVERSE BINARY FISSION
• In this the plane of
division is transverse i.e.
cuts at the middle of
the antero-posterior
axis.
• In Paramecium only the
micronucleus divides by
[Link]
divides amitotically.
OBLIQUE BINARY FISSION
• In this the plane of
division is oblique.
• Each one develops the
missing part.
• Eg-Ceratium
MULTIPLE FISSION
• In multiple fission,many nuclear
divisions precede the rapid
differentiation of the cytoplasm into
many distinct uninucleate
individuals.
• A mass of residual protoplasm may
remain which is degenerated and
lost.
• It may occur at certain phase in the
life-cycle of a protist.
• It is common in Plasmodium
(schizogony,sporogony),
Monocystis(gamogony,sporogony),E
ntamoeba ( metacyst),Aggregata
etc.
•
BUDDING
It is a form of unequal fission.
• It involves a preparatory phase
before division.s
• In this a portion of the parent
breaks off and differentiates to
form a new individual.
• It may be of two types:
[Link] budding-occurs at
the surface of the body;eg
Ephelota,Noctiluca etc.
[Link] budding-occurs
within an internal chamber or
pouch; eg- Suctoria
PLASMOTOMY
• It is considered to be a
form of budding.
• In the multinucleate
Protists the parent simply
divides into two
multinucleate daughter
individuals, in the absence
of any mitotic division.
• The original nuclei are
distributed between the
two progeny.
• Eg-Opalina ,Pleomyxa etc
ENDOPOLYOGENY
• It is also considered to be a
form of internal budding.
• In this more than two
offsprings are formed
within the parent organism.
• In this two or possibly more
nuclear divisions occur
before merozoite formation
begins.
• Eg –Toxoplasma gondii
REGENERATION
• It is the replacement of the
lost parts of the body.
• It is also a specialized type of
asexual reproduction.
• A specific part of the
protoplasm and nucleus can
regenerate the entire
organism.
• Widespread among free living
Protists such as Amoeba.
• Not so common in parasitic
Protists.
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
• It is the production and fusion of male and
female gametes to form a zygote which develops
into the adult.
• But mostly it is a specialized case of nuclear
exchange or reorganization in a unicellular
eukaryote like protists.
• It involves meiosis.
• It may take place in between asexual
reproduction
TYPES OF SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
In the Protists it is of the following type:
[Link]
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SYNGAMY
• It is the complete fusion of the whole individual which act as
gamonts or gametes.
• Fused diploid nucleus is known as synkaryon.
• It may be of the following type:
HOLOGAMY-it is the fusion of two mature individuals which
do not produce [Link] in some rhizopods and
flagellates;eg
PAEDOGAMY-it is the fusion of two young individuals which
are not mature; eg
Sometimes ,fusion of similar gametes is called isogamy and
fusion of dissimilar gametes is called anisogamy.
CONJUGATION
• It special type of sexual reproduction seen in Paramecium caudatum which has
one macronucleus and one micronucleus.
• It involves two individuals of the same species but of two different mating strains.
• There is temporary union of the two individuals for about 24 to 48 hours and they are called
conjugants.
• They unite ventrally and the pellicle fuses at the place of contact to form a cytoplasmic bridge
• Macronucleus degenerates and micronucleus undergoes changes in series.
• Micronucleus divides by meiosis to form four haploid daughter nuclei.
• Only one in each remain viable which divides by mitosis into two.
• One becomes large, stationary female pronucleus and the other becomes small, migratory
male pronucleus.
• There is reciprocal exchange of micronuclei and its fusion with the macronucleus toss form
the diploid zygote by this AMPHIMIXIS process.
• Each conjugant then [Link] are now called as exconjugants.
CONJUGATION contd…..
• In each exconjugant the zygotic nucleus divides by three quick
mitotic divisions.
• Eight daughter nuclei are formed in each.
• Four in each grows big to form the macronuclei.
• Four remain small of which three degenerates in each.
• One micronucleus in each divide by mitosis followed by cytokinesis.
• Each daughter receives two macronuclei and one micronucleus.
• Micronucleus divides by mitosis followed by cytokinesis
• Thus four+four=eight small daughter Paramecia formed from the
two exconjugants
• These grow to retain the adult form.
CONJUGATION: PROCESS
AUTOGAMY
• Described by Dilller in 1936.
• He called it as self fertilization.
• It takes place in Paramecium aurelia which has one
macronucleus and two micronuclei.
• It involves only one individual.
• It always leads to homozygosity.
• It is a special type of nuclear reorganization.
• It takes place as follows:
The macronucleus disintegrates.
A temporary protoplasmic cone forms near the
cytostome.
AUTOGAMY contd …..
both the micronuclei divide by MEIOSIS to produce eight daughter
nuclei.
seven of these degenerate and only ONE remains which divide by
mitosis to produce two gamete nuclei.
these two enter the protoplasmic cone and fuse to form the diploid
zygote nucleus.
it divides by TWO quick mitosis to produce FOUR daughter nuclei of
which two become large (macronuclei) and two remain
small(micronuclei).
The micronuclei divide by mitosis followed by cytokinesis to
produce two Paramecia each with a macronucleus and two
micronuclei.
PROCESS OF AUTOGAMY
ENDOMIXIS
• Described by Woodruff and
Erdmann in 1914.
• Special method of nuclear
reorganisation in
Paramecium aurelia.
• It involves a single
individual and is similar to
autogamy or hemixis.
• Four daughter Paramecia
are formed,each having
one maconucleus and one
micronucleus
HEMIXIS
• Described by Diller in
Paramecium aurelia.
• Special type of nuclear
reorganisation in a single
individual.
• In this the macronucleus is
rejuvenated.
• Macronucleus gives off
chromatin balls which are
supposed to consist of
redundant or waste materials.
• Micronuclei divide normally.
CYTOGAMY
• It was reported by
Wichterman(1940) in the
small strains of
Paramecium caudatum.
• It involves two Paramecia
• The process is similar to
conjugation but there is no
exchange of gametes
between the two.
• Instead , in each the two
haploid gamete nuclei fuse
to form a diploid synkaryon
or zygote nucleus.
PARTHENOGENESIS
• It takes place in certain
Protists in which the
gametes fail to fertilize.
• It is a special type of
asexual reproduction.
• It is the production of
offsprings from
unfertilized eggs.
• Eg- Actinophrys
REFERENCES:
• Agarwal VK(2011).Zoology for degree students; [Link] I
S Chand & Company ,first edition, 124-128.
• Brusca RC and Brusca GJ (2002 ).Invertebrates ;
Sinauer Associates Inc.,Publishers ,Second edition,
121-178.
• Ganguly BB, Sinha AK and Adhikari S. Biology of
Animals;New Central Book Agency, 84-153.
• Ruppert EE, Fox RS and Barnes RD(2004),Invrtebrate
Zoology ,Cengage Learning, Seventh edition, 22-46.
• Willey JM, Sherwood LM and Wolverton CJ (2011)
Prescott`s Microbiology; McGraw Hill International,
Eighth edition, 582-601.
REFERENCES contd…..
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