Question

In binary fission, the parent cell divides by the process
(a) Cytoplasm and nucleus divides at the same time
(b) Nucleus divides followed by division of cytoplasm
(c) Cytoplasm divides first then the nucleus
(d) Cytoplasm and nucleus do not divide

Answer 1

DNA replication and segregation occur simultaneously in the case of binary fission. Binary fission is a type of asexual reproduction in which a parent cell divides, resulting in two identical daughter cells. Each of them has the potential to grow up to the size of the original cell.

Complete answer:
Binary fission is the type of asexual reproduction in which the parent cell divides into two daughter individuals or daughter cells. In binary fission, the fully grown parent cell first gets organized into two halves. After replication of its genetic material, the parent cell divides into two equal-sized daughter cells. The genetic material is replicated, then equally split. Binary fission is common among prokaryotes, e.g. archaea, eubacteria, cyanobacteria, and certain protozoans. At first, the circular DNA and plasmids replicate. Then the cell gets bigger and the circular DNA strands move to the opposite poles of the cell. Soon, the cytoplasm begins to divide and new cell walls begin to form. Then the cytoplasm divides and two new daughter cells are produced.

Additional Information:
- Binary fission is similar in concept to the mitosis that happens in multicellular organisms, but its purpose is different.
- In the case of a bacterium, cell division is not just a means of making more cells for the body. Instead, it's the mode of reproduction.
So, the correct answer is '(b) Nucleus divides followed by division of cytoplasm'.

Note:
- Binary fission is similar to mitosis in certain aspects but also differs from mitosis in several ways.
- When grown under the right conditions Bacteria divide very quickly. The prime conditions include a warm environment and lots of nutrients.
- There are two kinds of fission, namely, binary fission and multiple fission. In multiple fissions, a single parent cell is divided into many daughter cells.