Cell Biology: Binary Fission

• Binary Fission is NOT the same as Mitosis
• Binary Fission occurs in prokaryotic cells like bacteria and archaea whereas Mitosis happens in eukaryotic cells like animal and plant cells
• Before a bacteria cell can divide, it needs to do 2 main things:

  1. Grow
  2. Replicate genetic material
• How quickly can some bacterial populations grow?


  Some bacteria can divide once every 20 minutes
• What factors affect the division time of a bacterial cell?


  Nutrient availability, temperature, pH, moisture and genetic factors.