What is fission? Explain different types of fission.

Explanation

Unicellular organism divides to form new individuals. The process of cell division is called fission.
Fission is the simplest method of asexual reproduction in unicellular organisms like protozoa and bacteria. Many different patterns of fission have been observed.
Types of fission: (1) Binary fission (2) Multiple fission.
( 1) Binary fission : Many bacteria and protozoa simply split into two equal halves during cell division.
Amoeba, the splitting of the two cells during division can take place in any plane.

Some unicellular organisms have different body organisation. e.g., Leishmania (causative agent of Kalaazar), which has a whip-like structure at one end of the cell. In Leishmania binary fission occurs in a definite longitudinal orientation in relation to these structures.

(2) Multiple Plasmodium divides into many daughter cells simultaneously called multiple fission.