Microbiology

Binary Fission

이분법

Definition

A form of asexual reproduction in which a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

Detailed Explanation

Binary fission is extremely rapid — under ideal conditions, E. coli divides every 20 minutes, meaning one bacterium becomes a billion in under 10 hours. This speed, combined with mutation rates of ~10⁻⁷ per base per generation, generates enormous diversity rapidly, enabling fast adaptation to antibiotics. Unlike mitosis, binary fission lacks a spindle apparatus — chromosomes segregate by attaching to the cell membrane before the cell pinches in two.

More in Microbiology