Question

Starfish Regrowth

If a starfish's arm is removed along with part of the center of the body. A whole new starfish can form from that broken piece. The amputated (cut off) starfish can also regenerate a new arm to replace the lost limb. Because two starfish are now formed from one, they will have identical chromosomes. If you see a starfish that has some arms significantly longer than the rest, this is a sign the animal has regenerated (regrow) some of its limbs.




Fill in the blanks below to make the statement accurate (true).



The starfish in this scenario that created a new starfish underwent _______________ reproduction. The quote from the article that identifies this is ___________________________.



A. asexual ; “identical chromosomes”



B. sexual ; “identical chromosomes”



C. asexual ; “regenerated some of its limbs”

Answer 1

The starfish reproduced asexually through fragmentation, identified by the phrase "identical chromosomes" referring to the new starfish having the same genetic material as the original.

Step-by-step explanation:

The starfish in this scenario that created a new starfish underwent asexual reproduction. The quote from the article that identifies this is "identical chromosomes". This specifically refers to the process known as fragmentation, where a single arm and part of the central disc can regenerate a new individual. This mode of reproduction ensures that the resulting offspring have the same genetic material as the parent, which is why they are said to have identical chromosomes. Seeing a starfish with arms of varying lengths is often indicative of recent regeneration, where some arms are original and others have grown back after being lost.

Answer 2

A) Asexual reproduction; "identical chromosmes"

Step-by-step explanation: