Final answer:
Binary fission is a cell division process in prokaryotes that involves DNA replication and segregation, and cell partitioning, resulting in two identical daughter cells. It’s a rapid process that facilitates quick bacterial population growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Binary fission involves concerted replication and partitioning of the chromosome. This process is seen in prokaryotes like bacteria, where binary fission serves as a simpler and quicker means of cell division compared to eukaryotes. The process begins with the DNA replication of the bacterial chromosome at the origin of replication and proceeds bi-directionally. The replicated chromosomes then segregate, moving to opposite ends of the cell. Following chromosome segregation, the cell grows and partitioning occurs, ultimately resulting in the division into two genetically identical daughter cells. This efficiency allows bacterial populations to multiply rapidly, with some capable of doubling their population in less than ten minutes.
Although the mechanism by which chromosomes move to opposite ends is not fully understood, the importance of proteins in packaging the DNA into a compact size is well-recognized. These proteins are functionally related to those found in eukaryotic chromosome compaction. The bacterial DNA, housed in an area known as the nucleoid, is not enclosed by a nucleus which facilitates the speed and simplicity of the binary fission process.