Final answer:
The replication of the chromosome in E. coli is bidirectional and starts at a fixed point of initiation, proceeding in both directions from the single origin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The replication of the chromosome in E. coli is bidirectional and begins at a fixed point of initiation. This means that replication starts at a single origin of replication and proceeds in both directions away from the origin, forming two replication forks. In terms of a chromosome, this organism has a unicircular chromosome, which means it contains only one origin of replication where the entire process begins.