Bacterial Binary Fission

Bacterial binary fission
Steps of binary fission, including copying of the bacterial chromosome and

formation of a new cell wall.
Introduction
You may be familiar with mitosis, which is the process that eukaryotes (such
as you, me, your dog, and your favorite houseplant) use to divide their
nuclear DNA during cell division. However, mitosis is a complex process, a
chromosomal "dance" with some fancy choreography.
So, you might be wondering: How do simpler organisms, like bacteria,
undergo cell division? The answer: binary fission!
What is binary fission?

Bacterial binary fission is the process that bacteria use to carry out cell
division. Binary fission is similar in concept to the mitosis that happens in
eukaryotic organisms (such as plants and animals), but its purpose is
different.
When cells divide by mitosis in the body of a multicellular organism, they
cause the organism to grow larger or replace old, worn-out cells with new
ones. In the case of a bacterium, however, cell division isnt just a means of
making more cells for the body. Instead, its actually how bacteria
reproduce, or add more bacteria to the population.
Binary fission has features in common with mitosis, but also differs from
mitosis in some important ways. Let's take a look at how it works.
Steps of binary fission

Like a human cell, a dividing bacterium needs to copy its DNA. Unlike
human cells, which have multiple linear (rod-like) chromosomes enclosed in
a membrane-bound nucleus, bacterial cells usually have a single, circular
chromosome and always lack a nucleus. However, the bacterial
chromosome is found in a specialized region of the cell called the nucleoid.
Copying of DNA by replication enzymes begins at a spot on the chromosome
called the origin of replication. The origin is the first part of the DNA to be
copied. As replication continues, the two origins move towards opposite
ends of the cell, pulling the rest of the chromosome along with them. The
cell also gets longer, adding to the separation of the newly forming
chromosomes.
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Stages of binary fission.
1. We see the intact bacterial chromosome (which is circular). It has two
regions called the origin of replication and the terminus of replication,
which are located diametrically opposite to one another on the
chromosome.
2. The chromosome opens at the origin of replication, and the two DNA
strands are copies, with replication proceeding in opposite directions on
the two strands.
3. Copying continues, and the cell elongates. The new origins of replication
move apart, towards opposite ends of the cell.
4. A septum (wall) forms down the middle of the cell, partitioning it into two
new cells, each with one of the two (now-complete) bacterial chromosome
copies.
5. The cell pinches in two. We now have two new bacteria!
Replication continues until the entire chromosome is copied and the

replication enzymes meet at the far side. Once the new chromosomes have
moved to opposite cell ends and cleared the center of the cell, division of
the cytoplasm can take place.
In this process, the membrane pinches inward and a septum, or new
dividing wall, forms down the middle of the cell. (Bacteria have a cell wall,
so they must regenerate this wall when they undergo cell division.)
Finally, the septum itself splits down the middle, and the two cells are
released to continue their lives as individual bacteria.
Comparing binary fission and mitosis
Bacterial binary fission is similar in some ways to the mitosis that happens
in eukaryotes and other humans. In both cases, chromosomes are copied
and separated, and the cell divides its cytoplasm to form two new cells.
However, the mechanics and sequence of the two processes are fairly
different. For one thing, no mitotic spindle forms in bacteria. Perhaps more
importantly, DNA replication actually happens at the same time as DNA
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separation during binary fission (unlike in mitosis, where DNA is copied
during S phase, long before its separation in M phase).
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Bacterial Binary Fission

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Bacterial binary fission

Steps of binary fission, including copying of the bacterial chromosome and

What is binary fission?

Steps of binary fission

Replication continues until the entire chromosome is copied and the

Comparing binary fission and mitosis

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