Binary fission

• Binary fission - the process by which prokaryotic organisms divide and reproduce
• Can also be referred to as asexual reproduction
• Before it divides (binary fission) :

  • Grow
  • Replicate genetic material (large circular strand and plasmids)
• Conditions needed for binary fission:

  • warm
  • moist
  • plenty of nutrients
• Once the cell is ready to divide by binary fission it :

  • Moves the two circular strands of DNA to opposite sides of the cell
  • Forms a new cell wall down the middle of the cell
  • Two halves pull apart to form two cells
• How to calculate population growth of bacteria:

  • Number of bacteria at the beginning x 2^(number of divisions) =bacteria at the end
• With optimum conditions bacteria can multiply by binary fission every 20 minutes.