Binary fission

• How do prokaryotic organisms like bacteria reproduce?

  They reproduce through binary fission.
• What is the difference between binary fission and mitosis?

  Binary fission occurs in prokaryotic cells.
• What structures do bacterial cells have?

  Cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, DNA.
• What is the role of plasmids in bacteria?

  Plasmids contain non-essential genes.
• What is a flagellum in bacteria?

  A tail used for movement.
• Why is binary fission considered a type of reproduction?

  It divides one organism into two.
• What must a bacterial cell do before dividing?

  It must grow and replicate genetic material.
• How does a bacterial cell prepare for division?

  It replicates its DNA and plasmids.
• What happens to the circular strands of DNA during binary fission?

  They move to opposite sides of the cell.
• What is formed when the cell wall grows down the middle of a bacterial cell?

  Two new bacterial cells are formed.
• How quickly can some bacteria divide under optimal conditions?

  Every 20 minutes.
• If a bacterial cell divides every 20 minutes, how many cells are there after 5 hours?

  Over 250,000 cells.
• How do you calculate the number of bacterial cells after a certain time?

  Use division cycles and doubling.
• What does mean division time refer to?

  Average time for a cell to divide.
• How many division cycles occur in 3 hours if the mean division time is 30 minutes?

  Six division cycles.
• How many cells are produced after 3 hours from one bacterial cell with a mean division time of 30 minutes?

  64 cells.
• What factors affect the mean division time of bacteria?

  Species and environmental conditions.
• How many division cycles occur in 4 hours if the division time is 20 minutes?

  12 division cycles.
• How many cells will there be after 4 hours from 1,000 bacteria dividing every 20 minutes?

  4,096,000 cells.
• What are the steps involved in binary fission?

  1. Bacterial cell grows.
  2. DNA and plasmids replicate.
  3. DNA strands move to opposite sides.
  4. New cell wall forms down the middle.
  5. Cell divides into two new cells.
• What are the optimal conditions for bacterial growth?

  • Warm temperature
  • Moist environment
  • Plenty of nutrients
• What is the relationship between division time and bacterial population growth?

  • Shorter division time leads to faster growth.
  • Population doubles with each division cycle.