Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?  

The correct answer is Plasmodium divides into many daughter cells simultaneously by binary fission..

Key Points

• Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, primarily reproduces through a process called schizogony, not binary fission.
• In schizogony, a single cell divides to form multiple daughter cells, but this is distinct from the process of binary fission.
• Binary fission involves the division of a single organism into two parts, each with a copy of the original DNA, which is not the case in Plasmodium.
• Plasmodium undergoes multiple fission, forming numerous daughter cells at once, which is a characteristic of its asexual reproduction cycle in the human liver and red blood cells.

Additional Information

• Amoeba Reproduction
  • Amoeba reproduces by binary fission, where the cell splits into two equal halves, and this can occur in any plane.
  • Each daughter cell is a clone of the parent cell, possessing the same genetic material.
• Yeast Reproduction
  • Yeast reproduces asexually by budding, where a small bud forms on the parent cell, grows, and eventually separates to become a new individual.
• Leishmania Reproduction
  • Leishmania reproduces by binary fission, which occurs in a specific orientation along the longitudinal axis of the cell.
  • This process ensures that each daughter cell receives the necessary cellular components to survive and function.
• Plasmodium Life Cycle
  • Plasmodium has a complex life cycle involving both asexual (schizogony) and sexual (sporogony) reproduction stages.
  • In humans, the asexual stage involves schizogony in liver cells and red blood cells, producing merozoites that infect new cells.
  • The sexual stage occurs in the mosquito vector, leading to the formation of sporozoites, which are transmitted to humans during a mosquito bite.