Budding

(bud'-ing) In biology, a form of reproduction or cell-division, occurring among the polyps and infusorise, in which a bud is given off by the parent and comes to resemble the latter. The bud may remain permanently attached or may form a colony, each member acquiring a differentiation of function, even to the formation of male and female elements. The proce is also called Gemmation, a. v.