Final answer:
The step in binary fission responsible for the creation of genetically identical daughter cells is the replication of the cell's genomic DNA. This ensures each daughter cell receives an exact genetic copy of the parent's single, circular DNA chromosome.
Step-by-step explanation:
The step of binary fission responsible for producing genetically identical daughter cells is the replication of the genomic DNA.
This critical stage ensures each new cell receives an exact copy of the parent's genetic material. After the DNA replication, the prokaryotic cell will divide, and the two daughter cells will inherit these copies.
Since the bacterial genome consists of a single, circular DNA chromosome, the division process is more straightforward than in eukaryotic cells, where mitosis must ensure that each nucleus receives the correct number of chromosomes.
Because bacteria lack a nucleus, mitosis is not part of binary fission, and there is no karyokinesis. The nucleoid, where the DNA is found, organizes the replication and segregation of the chromosome.
This efficient and rapid process allows for a quick population growth, sometimes with populations doubling as fast as every 20 minutes.