multiple fission: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “multiple fission” mean?
A type of asexual reproduction in which a single parent cell divides into many daughter cells simultaneously.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of asexual reproduction in which a single parent cell divides into many daughter cells simultaneously.
In biology, a reproductive process where the nucleus of a unicellular organism divides repeatedly, followed by the division of the cytoplasm into many offspring cells at once. It contrasts with binary fission, where one cell splits into two.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling follows regional conventions for other words in the sentence.
Connotations
Identical technical meaning in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both academic biological texts.
Grammar
How to Use “multiple fission” in a Sentence
[Organism] undergoes multiple fission.Multiple fission results in [number] daughter cells.[Species] reproduces via multiple fission.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “multiple fission” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The parasite will multiple-fission under favourable conditions.
- The organism began to multiple-fission rapidly.
American English
- The protist can multiple-fission when nutrients are abundant.
- Researchers observed the cell multiple-fissioning.
adverb
British English
- The cell divided multiple-fissionally.
- It reproduced multiple-fissionally.
American English
- The nucleus split multiple-fissionally.
- Reproduction occurred multiple-fissionally.
adjective
British English
- The multiple-fission process was documented.
- They studied multiple-fission reproduction.
American English
- A multiple-fission event was captured on video.
- This is a multiple-fission species.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biology textbooks and research papers on protists, algae, or parasitic reproduction.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in microbiology and parasitology to describe a specific reproductive mode.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “multiple fission”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “multiple fission”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “multiple fission”
- Confusing it with 'binary fission'. Using it to describe cell division in multicellular organisms. Mispronouncing 'fission' as /ˈfaɪʃn̩/ (like 'vision').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Mitosis is nuclear division in eukaryotic cells that typically results in two identical nuclei. Multiple fission is a broader reproductive strategy where one parent cell produces many offspring cells simultaneously; it may involve mitotic nuclear divisions followed by cytoplasmic division.
It is common in various protists, such as some algae (e.g., Chlamydomonas), sporozoan parasites (e.g., Plasmodium, which causes malaria), and some bacteria under specific conditions.
It allows for the rapid production of a large number of offspring from a single parent in a short time, which is advantageous for colonising new environments or for parasitic transmission.
In technical biological writing, it is sometimes used as a hyphenated verb (e.g., 'the cell multiple-fissions'), but it is more commonly used as a noun phrase (e.g., 'reproduction by multiple fission').
A type of asexual reproduction in which a single parent cell divides into many daughter cells simultaneously.
Multiple fission is usually technical/scientific in register.
Multiple fission: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmʌltɪpl̩ ˈfɪʃn̩/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmʌltəpl̩ ˈfɪʃn̩/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MULTIple' = many, 'FISSION' = splitting. One cell splits into MANY at once.
Conceptual Metaphor
A factory producing multiple identical products in one batch run.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'multiple fission'?