Binary Fission

Question 1

How can Prokaryotic cells reproduce?

Answer 1

Using binary fission (type of simple cell division).

Question 2

What are the steps of Binary Fission?

Answer 2

1. The circular DNA and plasmid(s) replicate. 2. The cell gets bigger and the circular DNA strands move to opposite “poles” (ends) of the cell. 3. The cytoplasm begins to divide and new cell walls begin to form. 4. The cytoplasm divides and two daughter cells are produced. Each daughter cell has one copy of the circular DNA but can have a variable number of copies of the plasmid(s).

Question 3

How does the environment of bacteria affect its performance?

Answer 3

Given the right conditions, bacteria can divide very quickly (e.g. a warm environment and lots of nutrients). Some bacteria, such as E.coli, can take as little as 20 minutes to replicate in the right environment. However, if conditions become unfavourable, the cells will stop dividing and begin to die.