File:Binary fission.jpg

Binary fission. Organisms such as bacteria typically have a single chromosome (green). At the start of the binary fission process, the DNA molecule of the cell's chromosome is replicated, producing two copies of the chromosome. A key aspect of bacterial cell reproduction is making sure that each daughter cell gets a copy of the chromosome. Cytokinesis is the actual physical separation of the two new daughter cells.

Source:Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Three_cell_growth_types.png

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