Biology / Unit 4 Bio 0903 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Binary Fission
Captions available
The idea
Binary fission is prokaryotic cell division: a cell's single circular chromosome replicates, the copies move toward opposite poles, and the cytoplasm splits in two.
In practice
A bacterium dividing by binary fission produces two genetically identical daughters — for it, cell division is reproduction of the whole organism, unlike a multicellular organism's.
Where people slip
Binary fission needs no karyokinesis, since a prokaryote has no true nucleus.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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