EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: - is a unicellular parasitic genus of protists that can infect humans and cause a disease called malaria. Its life cycle is an example of an interesting phenomenon called alternation of generations, which is a pattern of reproduction that involves alternation between a sexual phase and an asexual phase.

Detailed explanation-2: -Among animals, many invertebrates have an alternation of sexual and asexual generations (e.g., protozoans, jellyfish, flatworms), but the alternation of haploid and diploid generations is unknown.

Detailed explanation-3: -Alternation of generations is common in plants, algae, and fungi. This can be compared to the sexual reproduction in animals where both haploid and diploid cells are found in every generation. Plants alternate between the diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte, and between asexual and sexual reproduction.

Detailed explanation-4: -This term is applied if in one species two or more generations* with different modes of reproduction alternate. In contrast to higher organisms which grow by cell division, protozoan individuals reproduce by cell division. Their alternation of generations is therefore designated as primary.

Detailed explanation-5: -Syngamy and meiotic division occur during sexual reproduction, but since bacteria do not create gametes, there is no syngamy or reduction division, and bacteria do not have alternation of generation.