Binary fission is a very quick way to reproduce. Some bacteria are able to divide themselves up every 20 minutes. A billion bacteria can be produced in this way from one bacterium in just ten hours given the right conditions.
Binary fission is a very quick way to reproduce. Some bacteria are able to divide themselves up every 20 minutes. A billion bacteria can be produced in this way from one bacterium in just ten hours given the right conditions.
Offspring without sex
Binary fission is when an organism splits into two identical individual organisms without sex taking place. It is a type of asexual reproduction which often occurs in prokaryote micro-organisms. Some organelles among eukaryotes reproduce using binary fission.
From one to two
Binary fission starts with the DNA being copied. Then the cell begins to grow and becomes increasingly longer. The two DNA copies are pulled away from each other in this process. They are eventually positioned at the two opposite ends of the cell. The cell membrane folds inwards dividing the DNA and forms a barrier which splits the cell into two separate cells.
Visible colonies
Scientists are happy to make use of this quick form of reproduction. They are able to culture visible colonies of microbes in just a short time for use in research.