View source for Gemmule

{{Short description|Reproductive bud of sponges}}
{{About|the internal buds of freshwater sponges|the proposed mechanism of heredity|pangenesis}}
{{more footnotes|date=March 2016}}

'''Gemmules''' are internal [[Budding|buds]] found in [[sea sponge|sponge]]s and are involved in [[asexual reproduction]]. It is an asexually reproduced mass of cells, that is capable of developing into a new organism i.e., an adult sponge.

==Role in asexual reproduction==

Asexual reproduction in sponges occurs via [[budding]], either by external or internal buds. The internal buds are called gemmules. Only endogenous types of buds develop into new sponges.

==Characteristics==
Gemmules are resistant to [[desiccation]] (drying out), freezing, and [[Hypoxia (medical)|anoxia]] (lack of [[oxygen]]) and can lie around for long periods of time. Gemmules are analogous to a bacterium's [[endospore]] and are made up of [[amoebocytes]] surrounded by a layer of [[Sponge spicule|spicules]] and can survive conditions that would kill adult sponges. When the environment becomes less hostile, the gemmule resumes growing.

==References==
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{{Wiktionary}}

*Feldkamp, Susan (2002). ''Modern Biology.'' United States: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. p.&nbsp;695. Accessed on May 23, 2006.

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[[Category:Sponge anatomy]]


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