EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Gemmules are resistant to desiccation (drying out), freezing, and anoxia (lack of oxygen) and can lie around for long periods of time. Gemmules are similar to a bacterium’s endospore and are made up of amoebocytes surrounded by a layer of spicules and can survive conditions that would kill adult sponges.

Detailed explanation-2: -Gemmules are seed-like capsules formed by sponges for overwintering, containing cells from which a new sponge can grow. Gemmules have the characteristics that identify sponges to the species level: With a tube (surrounding the foraminal opening (f) to the exterior of the gemmule) extending from the gemmule surface.

Detailed explanation-3: -Gemmules are internal buds found in sponges and are involved in asexual reproduction. It is an asexually reproduced mass of cells, that is capable of developing into a new organism i.e., an adult sponge.

Detailed explanation-4: -What is internal budding? Internal budding, also known as endodyogeny, is an asexual reproduction process favoured by parasites like Toxoplasma gondii. It is a unique process in which 2 daughter cells are produced inside a mother cell, which is then imbibed by the offspring prior to their separation.

Detailed explanation-5: -Freshwater sponges (Spongilla) produce special bodies called as gemmules. During unfavorable conditions, gemmule germinates and produces new sponges. For gemmule formation, archaeocytes laden with food material in the form of glycoprotein or lipoprotein get aggregated into mass.