FISSION

(from Lat. findere, to split), in biology, reproduction by division of one organism of low type into two, each of these, again, dividing into two others, and so on. The products of the division of the body of the primitive organism may either remain connected, when they will give rise to a composite structure (as in many corals), or they may be thrown off and lead an in deen dent existence (as in some of the ydrozoa).