longitudinal fission

biology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Longitudinal fission is a type of asexual reproduction, specifically a form of binary fission, where an organism divides into two new bodies along a longitudinal axis. This process is common in prokaryotic organisms and some protists.1

During binary fission, the organism duplicates its genetic material (DNA) and then undergoes cytokinesis, dividing its cytoplasm. Each new organism receives a copy of the DNA. While transverse fission is more common, longitudinal fission refers to the specific plane of division in certain organisms. This method of reproduction allows for rapid population growth when environmental conditions are favourable.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

binary fission
…types, such as transverse or longitudinal, depending on the axis of cell separation. Regular transverse fission in some organisms, such as tapeworms and scyphostome polyps, is called strobilation. Commonly, this results in a chain, called a strobilus, of the fission products—the proglottids of tapeworms and the ephyrae of scyphozoan
Read More
…types, such as transverse or longitudinal, depending on the axis of cell separation. Regular transverse fission in some organisms, such as tapeworms and scyphostome polyps, is called strobilation. Commonly, this results in a chain, called a strobilus, of the fission products—the proglottids of tapeworms and the ephyrae of scyphozoan
Read More