What is Binary Fission in cell reproduction?
Cell division takes place in prokaryotic cells by binary fission, also called prokaryotic fission. In prokaryotes, DNA is contained in a single, circular chromosome that would measure about 1 millimeter in circumference stretched out. There is also no separate nucleus surrounding the DNA.
In binary fission, the DNA is first duplicated, and the duplicated DNA molecules attach to the cell membrane, slightly separated from each other. The cytoplasm then divides into two parts. When the membrane pinches in to make two cells, the two copies of DNA are separated, and each new cell receives a copy of circular DNA. New cell walls are formed, and each new cell grows and develops into a mature cell. In this way each of the two daughter cells has exactly the same DNA as the parent cell.