Binary Fission

1
Binary Fission

• Asexual Reproduction in Prokaryotes

2
What is a Prokaryote?

• An organism that lacks a true nucleus in its cell
• Most are unicellular organisms
• Bacteria
• Archea

3
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!

4
Binary Fission
5
Binary Fission Step 1
The cell wall prepares for replication. The cell
wall starts to rupture.
6
Binary Fission Step 2
The cell makes a copy of its single, circular
chromosome.
7
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.
8
Binary Fission Step 4
Cytokinesis occurs and two identical bacterium
exist.
9
(No Transcript)