Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction used by prokaryotic and some eukaryotic organisms. It involves duplicating DNA, growing to a larger size, and splitting into two identical daughter cells. Prokaryotes can also reproduce sexually for genetic diversity. The septal ring regulates binary fission to prevent errors. Eukaryotic organelles can also reproduce this way, but errors can cause cell death or conditions like tumors.
Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction that is utilized by all prokaryotic organisms and also some eukaryotic organisms such as fungi. In addition to being used to duplicate entire organisms, this process is also used within the cells of eukaryotic organisms by some organelles. In this process, two daughter cells are produced from a single mother cell which effectively self-clones. The bacterium Escherichia coli has been used extensively by researchers studying binary fission, as it provides a classic example of this method of asexual reproduction in action, and is very abundant.
In binary fission, the cell begins by duplicating its DNA to create two complete sets, and then growing to a much larger than normal size. As the cell grows, the strands of DNA move to opposite ends of the cell. Once the cell has reached the right size, it splits in two, creating two daughter cells with identical DNA. This process is classically used when an organism lives in a stable environment.
In addition to reproducing via binary fission, many prokaryotes can also reproduce sexually. Sexual reproduction is important because it contributes to genetic diversity by mixing the genes of various individuals. Repeated sessions of binary fission would reduce genetic diversity, making the species as a whole highly susceptible to being wiped out. Sexual reproduction mixes things up, keeping species diverse and encouraging the development of beneficial mutations.
The timing of binary fission is important, as organisms must do it at the right time. The process is partially regulated by the septal ring, a ring of proteins that forms around the center of the cell, encouraging it to divide evenly without damaging the DNA or cell wall. Errors in the fission process can cause daughter cells to form with incomplete DNA or extra copies of some genes. The septal ring is designed to prevent this.
Within the cells of eukaryotic organisms, organelles such as mitochondria can be reproduced by this method. Binary fission within the cell is usually timed to occur when the cell is in the process of replicating and dividing as part of the cell cycle. Errors can occur during this process, causing problems with the daughter cells produced during cell division. These errors can cause cell death because the new cell cannot survive on its own, or they can lead to conditions such as tumors, caused by errors in cell division that lead to proliferation of cell growth.
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