Final answer:
Asexual reproduction involves producing offspring from a single parent, resulting in genetically identical individuals. Binary fission is a complete splitting into two new cells, common in bacteria, while budding involves growth of a new organism from a part of the parent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Asexual reproduction is a process through which a new individual is created from a single parent, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to each other and to the parent. One common method of asexual reproduction is binary fission, often seen in bacteria, where a parent cell grows and then splits into two identical daughter cells, usually the same size. Another asexual method is budding, where the parent organism produces a bump or bud, which remains attached to the parent while it develops into a new individual before becoming independent.
Difference between Budding and Binary Fission
In budding, only a part of the parent organism is involved in the reproduction process, and the new organism grows from the parent before detaching. In binary fission, the entire organism is involved as it completely splits to create two new organisms. Additionally, binary fission results in rapid population growth particularly advantageous in unstable environments because it allows the organism to multiply quickly when conditions are favorable.