Gemmule
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This article is about the internal buds of freshwater sponges. For the proposed mechanism of heredity, see Gemmule (pangenesis).
Gemmules are internal buds found in sponges that are the result of asexual reproduction, and are a response to a hostile environment.They are resistant to desiccation (drying out), freezing, and anoxia (lack of oxygen) and can lie around for long periods of time. These are similar to a bacterium's endospore. Gemmules are made up of amoebocytes surrounded by a layer of spicules and can survive conditions that would kill adult sponges. When the environment becomes less hostile, the gemmule resumes growing.
[edit] References
- Feldkamp, Susan (2002). Modern Biology. United States: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. p. 695. Accessed on May 23, 2006.
