AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Q. Sea stars (starfish) can reproduce asexually by fragmentation if their arms are cut off, or sexually by releasing sperm and eggs into the water. Which of these is the major difference between asexual and sexual reproduction in sea stars? The chromosome number is reduced in sea stars during sexual reproduction.

Detailed explanation-2: -Starfish exhibit an asexual mode of reproduction through binary fission and regeneration. Starfish is a bisexual organism and undergoes regeneration as a method for asexual reproduction. In binary fission, the parent organism’s cell divides exactly into two genetically identical daughter cells.

Detailed explanation-3: -Asexual reproduction is by fragmentation, a part of an arm and part of the central disk becomes detached from the “parent” and develops into an independent individual sea star. In the past, many sea stars have been “killed” by chopping them into pieces but they have been able to regenerate and grow into more sea stars.

Detailed explanation-4: -Sea stars can reproduce sexually and asexually. In sexual reproduction, fertilization occurs in the water with males and females releasing sperm and eggs into the environment. The much less common asexual reproduction occurs as a result of dismemberment that marks the formation of two whole starfish with the same DNA.

Detailed explanation-5: -Starfish, or sea stars, can reproduce sexually or asexually. During sexual reproduction, the male and female release sperm and eggs into the environment, resulting in fertilized free-swimming embryos.