Binary fission
In biology, binary fission is the asexual reproductive process used by prokaryotes and results in the reproduction of a living cell by division into two equal, or near equal, parts.
It begins when the DNA of the cell is duplicated. Duplication of DNA inside cells is called DNA replication. Each circular strand of DNA then attaches to the plasma membrane, which
grows inwards and splits the cell into two daughter cells through a process called cytokinesis.
This type of asexual reproduction theoretically results in two identical cells. However, bacterial DNA has a relatively high mutation rate. This rapid rate of genetic change is what makes bacteria capable of
developing resistance to antibiotics and helps them exploit invasion into a wide range of environments.
Organisms that reproduce by binary fission include:
See also
