What is the process called that involves the division of bacterial cells into two new daughter cells?

The process that involves the division of bacterial cells into two new daughter cells is known as binary fission. This is a straightforward form of asexual reproduction observed in prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria. In binary fission, the bacterial cell first replicates its DNA, then elongates, and ultimately divides into two separate cells that are genetically identical to the original.

This mechanism allows for rapid population growth as cells can divide quickly under favorable conditions, usually resulting in exponential growth of the bacterial population. Understanding binary fission is crucial for comprehending how bacteria multiply and how infections can spread, highlighting the importance of infection control practices in barbering and other health-related fields.

In contrast, mitosis and meiosis are processes of cell division primarily associated with eukaryotic cells. Mitosis results in the division of a single cell into two genetically identical daughter cells, but it is not how bacteria divide. Meiosis is a specialized form of division that halves the chromosome number to produce gametes for sexual reproduction, which is also not applicable to bacterial reproduction. Conjugation, on the other hand, involves the transfer of genetic material between bacteria but does not produce new cells by division, making binary fission the correct term for describing