C e l l D i v i s i o n : B a c t e r i a l & E u k a r y o t i c M e c h a n i s m s , C o n t r o l , a n d C a n c e r

How Cells Divide

10.1 Bacterial Cell Division

• Binary Fission: The process by which bacteria divide.

  • It is a form of asexual reproduction, resulting in clonal offspring.

  • Most bacteria possess a single, circular DNA molecule.

  • Structural Maintenance Proteins (SMC) facilitate the organization of DNA within the bacterial cell.

• Steps of Binary Fission:

  1. DNA Duplication: Replication begins at a specific region known as the origin of replication (oriC).

  2. Bidirectional Replication: Replication enzymes proceed in two directions from the origin to the site of termination (ter).

  3. Cell Elongation & DNA Partitioning: As DNA replication continues, the bacterial cell elongates, and the newly replicated DNA molecules move to opposite ends of the cell.

  4. Septation Begins: A septum starts to form at the midpoint of the cell. This involves the assembly of FtsZ proteins into a ring at the cell's future division site. FtsZ proteins are unique to prokaryotes.

  5. Cell Division: The FtsZ proteins contract,