Final answer:
Chromosomes replicate before cell division in both eukaryotes and bacteria, to ensure genetic material is passed to daughter cells. Eukaryotic cell division includes mitosis and cytokinesis, while bacterial replication occurs through binary fission.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chromosomes replicate before cell division in both eukaryotes and bacteria. In eukaryotic cells, the process of chromosome replication takes place during the interphase of the cell cycle before the cell enters mitosis. This ensures that each daughter cell receives a complete set of genetic material. Eukaryotic chromosomes are linear and found within a nuclear membrane, whereas bacterial chromosomes are typically circular and not contained within a nucleus.
During binary fission in prokaryotes, the replication of the circular chromosome begins at the origin of replication and progresses in both directions. This continuous process allows bacteria to grow and divide rapidly. In contrast, eukaryotic cell division is a more complex process involving mitosis and cytokinesis, where the replicated chromosomes are evenly distributed between the two new daughter cells.