Binary Fission Asexual Reproduction in Prokaryotes

What is a Prokaryote? An organism that lacks a true nucleus in its cell Most are unicellular organisms Bacteria Archea

Binary Fission Asexual reproduction Cell division Prokaryotes Each offspring is genetically identical to its parent E. coli – under optimal conditions – can complete this process in 20 minutes!

Binary Fission

Binary Fission – Step 1 The cell wall prepares for replication. The cell wall starts to rupture.

Binary Fission – Step 2 The cell makes a copy of its single, circular chromosome.

Binary Fission – Step 3 The cell grows larger and the chromosomes separate and move to opposite poles of the cell. The cell membrane begins to pinch inward, separating the two identical chromosomes.

Binary Fission – Step 4 Cytokinesis occurs and two identical bacterium exist.

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