11.3: Prokaryotic Cell Division

The cell division process used by prokaryotes (such as E. coli bacteria) and some unicellular eukaryotes is called binary fission. For unicellular organisms, cell division is the only method to produce new individuals. The outcome of this type of cell reproduction is a pair of daughter cells that are genetically identical to the original parent cell. In unicellular organisms, daughter cells are whole individual organisms. This is a less complicated and much quicker process than cell division in eukaryotes. Because of the speed of bacterial cell division, populations of bacteria can grow very rapidly.

To achieve the outcome of identical daughter cells, there are some essential steps. The genomic DNA must be replicated (using DNA replication) to produce two identical copies of the entire genome. Then, one copy must be moved into each of the daughter cells. The cytoplasmic contents must also be divided to give both new cells the machinery to sustain life. Since bacterial cells have a genome that consists of a single, circular DNA chromosome, the process of cell division is very simple.

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