Final answer:
The process in which yeast cells reproduce by producing a bulge that eventually breaks off to form a new yeast cell is called budding. It is a form of asexual reproduction involving mitosis where the nucleus divides, and the bud receives a copy of the genetic material, becoming an independent cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
When yeast cells reproduce asexually by making a bulge in the cytoplasm that grows and eventually breaks off to form a new cell, this process is called budding . This form of asexual reproduction involves a parent cell forming a bud which contains its own nucleus and cell machinery; the bud then grows until it is ready to separate and become an independent yeast cell. This method of reproduction allows for rapid growth and multiplication of yeast cells, making it a significant process not only in natural ecosystems but also in industrial applications such as baking and brewing where yeasts are utilized.
Through the process of mitosis , the yeast's nucleus divides and one copy of the genetic material is allocated to the budding cell. Although yeast can also reproduce sexually, especially under adverse environmental conditions, budding is a simpler and more energy-efficient method of cell multiplication compared to sexual reproduction processes such as meiosis .