Table of Contents
Formation and Structure of Gemmules
Gemmules – Formation: A gemmule is a small, compact mass of cells that is capable of regenerating a complete organism from a single gemmule. Gemmules are formed in response to environmental stress, such as a lack of food or oxygen. They are formed when a small number of cells break away from the main body of the organism and become encased in a protective shell. Gemmules can remain dormant for long periods of time, and can be activated by a change in environmental conditions.
Gemmule Formation in Sponges
Gemmules are small, spherically shaped masses of cells that are produced by sponges. They formed when a small piece of the sponge’s body breaks off and the cells inside it begin to divide. The gemmules released into the water and eventually drift to a new location, where they settle on the substrate and grow into new sponges.
Structure of Gemmules
The structure of a gemmule not fully understood, but it is thought to be a small, spiny sphere that is covered in a protective coat. The coat is thought to made up of a protein called chitin, which is also found in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans. Gemmules said to resistant to drying out and freezing, why they are able to survive for long periods of time in a dormant state.
Parts of a Gemmule
A gemmule is a small, spore-like body that produced by a bryozoan. Gemmules released into the water when the bryozoan dies. They can then drift until they find a place to settle and grow into a new bryozoan.
Gemmules Classification
Gemmules are tiny, delicate, membrane-bound sacs that produced by a cell and released into the surrounding medium. The gemmules may then transported to another part of the organism, where they fuse with other cells to form a new organism.
Features of Gemmules
Gemmules are tiny, spore-like bodies formed inside the cells of some plants and animals. They produced in response to environmental stress, such as injury, extreme cold, or lack of food. Gemmules can remain dormant for long periods of time, and can then activated when conditions improve.
Characteristics of Gemmules
Gemmules are reproductive cells in sponges. They formed when choanocytes divide and release their nuclei. These cells then transported to the surface of the sponge and released.
Gemmule Reproduction among Sponges
- Gemmules are reproductive cells that produced by sponges. These cells essentially clusters of cells that surrounded by a protective coat. Gemmules can produced by either the male or female sponge.
- When a gemmule is ready to released, it will detach from the parent sponge and sink to the bottom of the ocean. There, it will settle on the sea floor and develop into a new sponge.
