Which statement about the process of binary fission is true?

Binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction which single-celled organisms, usually prokaryotes, use to create a copy of themselves. Another term for the process is cellular cloning. Mitosis is cell division that results in two identical daughter cells and is primarily used for growth of an organism.

Binary fission is different from mitosis because prokaryotic cells do not have a true nucleus like eukaryotes. Also, there is no mitotic spindle formation in the nucleus during binary fission. However, the processes are similar in that the organism or cell first duplicates its DNA and then divides into two parts in a process known as cytokinesis.

Comparison Chart

Binary FissionMitosisPart of asexual reproduction?YesNoTypes of cells it occurs inProkaryotesEukaryotesFormation of mitotic spindles during division?NoYesUsed forReproductionOverall growthUses cytokinesis?YesYes

Binary Fission

Binary fission is the process by which a single-celled organism creates an exact copy of itself. It doesn’t require finding a mate like in sexual reproduction and it is a faster way to reproduce than sexual reproduction. At around 98.6°F, E. coli cells can divide about every 20 minutes. There are four main types of binary fission based on where the organism divides itself.

Simple

Simple binary fission is used by amoebas and can happen along any plane in the organism.

Transverse

Paramecia and planarians (slime molds) use transverse binary fission. In this method, the division happens along the organisms’ transverse axis. Some types of slime molds can have more than one fission simultaneously and divide into several daughter cells. Slime molds can also use sexual reproduction when necessary, such as to create more genetic diversity in a new environment. Paramecia can switch back and forth the between asexual and sexual reproduction as well.

Longitudinal

Euglenas use longitudinal binary fission where the division occurs along its longitudinal plane.

Oblique

Oblique binary fission is used by organisms in the genus Ceratium (marine dinoflagellates) where the separation occurs obliquely or on a slant.

Process of Binary Fission

Binary fission has steps that are similar to mitosis (see Mitosis section below). The DNA uncoils, duplicates and is pulled to opposite poles in the bacterium in an energy-dependent process. During this time, the organism increases in size to prepare for division. Finally, a cleavage furrow develops in the cell membrane and the two individual cells separate from each other.

Genetic Diversity in Eukaryotes

Eukaryotes can suffer from a lack of genetic diversity due to asexual reproduction via binary fission. Over time, natural selection has pressured these organisms to develop ways to exchange bits of DNA with other organisms to introduce some genetic diversity. The three methods are transformation, transduction and conjugation. In transformation, prokaryotes pick up small pieces of DNA that other prokaryotes have shed into the environment. Transduction occurs as a consequence of the actions of bacteriophages, which can transfer small pieces of DNA from one bacteria to another during the course of infecting them. Finally, in conjugation, bacteria use hair-like structures called pili (singular = pilus) to move small pieces of DNA to other bacteria.

Entamoeba histolytica binary fission
The image above shows the single-celled organism Entamoeba histolytica undergoing binary fission.

Mitosis

The process of mitosis consists of six major steps and results in two identical daughter cells. It is different from meiosis which is used to create sex cells for sexual reproduction. Prior to mitosis beginning, the cell has already copied its chromosomes and the proteins that will create the mitotic spindle were created during the step called interphase.

Prophase

During prophase, the chromosomes coil up tightly and appear thicker. The cells’ nucleolus shrinks in size and disappears. The nuclear membrane starts to break down and the spindle fibers start to form from the proteins created earlier.

Metaphase

Metaphase is characterized by the chromosomes lining up across the midline of the cell and attach to the spindle fibers.

Anaphase

In this phase, each pair of chromatids separates into two identical chromosomes. The spindle fibers then pull each set of chromosomes to opposite ends of the cell.

Telophase

In telophase, the chromosomes unwind and the spindle fibers are broken down. Also in this phase, the nuclear membrane begins to reform.

Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is when the cytoplasm of the mother cell divides forming two daughter cells. Each daughter cell has DNA that is identical to the mother cell in the number of chromosomes and the genotype.

What is binary fission? In biology, binary fission is a type of asexual reproduction where a parent cell divides, resulting in two identical cells, each having the potential to grow to the size of the original cell. The word asexual describes a reproduction that occurs without involving sex cells (gametes). Instead, the somatic cells undergo an asexual process that will produce a clone of the parent. The offspring is a clone because its genome will be identical to that of the parent. Binary fission is common among prokaryotes, e.g. archaea, eubacteria, cyanobacteria, and certain protozoans (e.g. amoeba).

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Process of Binary Fission

How does binary fission work? Binary fission is the way that prokaryotic cells and certain protozoans reproduce. Similar to other modes of asexual reproduction, such as budding and formation of baeocytes (e.g. in cyanobacterium Stanieria)1, the result is an offspring that has the same genome as the parent.

Prokaryotic binary fission

The prokaryotic cell contains DNA that is tightly coiled prior to cellular splitting. The process starts by creating a replicate of the genetic material. Next, the chromosomes segregate to separate poles of the cell — a process called “karyokinesis”. The cytoplasm is subsequently cleaved into two by a new cell membrane forming (cytokinesis). A cell wall also forms if the original (parent) cell has one. The new cell wall often starts out as a “Z-ring” as formed by the cytoskeleton FtsZ. Below is a diagram depicting a bacterium undergoing cell fission. As shown, the method of bacterial replication appears to be fast and simple. Inside a bacterial cell, the stages are as follows: (1) genomic replication, (2) chromosome segregation, and (3) cytokinesis.

Binary fission steps. The figure shows how bacteria reproduce through binary fission. (1) Chromosome, duplicated. (2-4) Chromosomes segregating. (5) Septum forms in the middle of the cell. (6) Two cells are produced. Credit: Ecoddington14, CC BY-SA 3.0

Binary fission in eukaryotic cells

Sexual reproduction is common among eukaryotes; however, some of them can reproduce asexually. Protozoa are examples of eukaryotes that can reproduce by binary fission. Mitochondria, one of the major organelles in eukaryotic cells, divide by binary fission. The process is similar to prokaryotic fission. This is one of the bases of the theory called Endosymbiotic theory wherein primitive prokaryotic cells are presumed to have evolved into the mitochondria that we know today.

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Types of Binary Fission

Binary fission has four types according to how the cell divides: (1) irregular, (2) transverse, (3) longitudinal, and (4) oblique.

1. Irregular

In irregular binary fission, the cell divides at any plane. However, it is mostly in a manner perpendicular to where the nuclear division (karyokinesis) occurred.

2. Transverse

In transverse-type, cell division occurs along the transverse axis, hence the name.

3. Longitudinal

In longitudinal binary fission, the cell divides longitudinally.

4. Oblique

In oblique binary fission, cell division occurs obliquely, which may either by left or right oblique.

Differences Between Binary Fission and Mitosis

Binary fission is similar to mitosis in the way that the process ultimately leads to the production of two identical daughter cells. However, they differ in many aspects. While binary fission is for reproductive purposes mitosis is primarily for growth in multicellular organisms. The genetic material is replicated prior to mitosis whereas this stage occurs as part of binary fission. Furthermore, spindle fibers are one of the features that define mitosis. The spindle fibers attach to the chromosomes to move and divide the chromosomes into two equal sets at opposite poles. The new cells from mitosis will not be a new individual as it is in binary fission. They will become a somatic cell that will either develop into a specialized differentiated cell or a cell that divides mitotically to give rise to another set of new cells.

Binary fission vs. Mitosis

Binary fissionMitosisFunction: reproductionFunction: cell growth (in numbers) in multicellular organismsOccurs in prokaryotes and eukaryotesOccurs in eukaryotesNo spindle formsMitotic spindle formsStages: chromosome duplication, chromosome segregation, cytokinesisStages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophaseProduct: two cells with an identical genomeProduct: two cells with an identical genome

Binary Fission Examples

Several organisms perform binary fission. Bacteria, for instance, use it as a way to reproduce. As already mentioned above, bacterial fission entails chromosomal replication, chromosomal segregation, and cell splitting. Another group of organisms that reproduce by binary fission is the protozoa. In protozoan fission, the process is similar as it entails similar fundamental stages. However, protozoa differ from prokaryotes in having mitochondria that have to be duplicated and divided as well. They differ in how their cell splits. For instance, in amoebae, cytokinesis takes place along any plane. Thus, their binary fission exemplifies the irregular type. As for longitudinal-type, Euglena is an example. Ceratium, in turn, is a protozoan in which cytokinesis occurs obliquely. Paramecium is an example of a protozoan whose binary fission is transverse-type.

What is true about binary fission?

In the process of binary fission, an organism duplicates its genetic material, or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and then divides into two parts (cytokinesis), with each new organism receiving one copy of DNA. Binary fission is the primary method of reproduction of prokaryotic organisms.

What is true of binary fission quizlet?

Which of the following statements is true for binary fission? Binary fission results in the production of two genetically identical daughter cells.

What are the 4 steps of binary fission?

The steps involved in the binary fission in bacteria are:.

Step 1- Replication of DNA. The bacterium uncoils and replicates its chromosome, essentially doubling its content..

Step 2- Growth of a Cell. ... .

Step 3-Segregation of DNA. ... .

Step 4- Splitting of Cells..

What is the correct sequence process of binary fission?

Binary fission is an asexual mode of reproduction in protists wherein replication of chromosomes (III) is followed by inward growth of cytoplasmic membrane (IV) and (II) then splitting into two daughter cells (V). Hence, the correct answer is option D.