Budding is a form of
A. gestation.
B. fertilization.
C. asexual reproduction.
D. sexual reproduction.
To determine the correct answer, let's break down the options and explain what each one means:
A. Gestation refers to the period during which a developing fetus grows inside the body of a pregnant female.
B. Fertilization is the process by which a sperm cell joins with an egg cell to form a zygote, initiating the development of a new organism.
C. Asexual reproduction involves the production of offspring without the involvement of gametes, such as sperm and egg cells. This can occur through various methods, such as budding, binary fission, or vegetative propagation.
D. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes from two parents, typically a sperm and an egg, to produce offspring that inherit genetic traits from both parents.
Given the options, the correct answer is C. Budding is indeed a form of asexual reproduction. Budding occurs when a new organism or offspring develops from an outgrowth or bud on the parent organism. The offspring is genetically identical or very similar to the parent.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. asexual reproduction.