Bacteria reproduce asexually by which process?

Bacteria reproduce asexually by which process?

• A. Conjugation
• B. Transformation
• C. Binary Fission
• D. Transduction

Answer: (C)

Binary fission is how bacteria reproduce asexually. In this process, the circular chromosome is replicated, the cell grows, and a septum forms to divide the cytoplasm, producing two genetically identical daughter cells. Because division creates new cells without any pairing or sharing genetic material with another cell, offspring are clones of the parent. The other terms—conjugation, transformation, and transduction—are forms of horizontal gene transfer, not reproduction: conjugation transfers DNA between cells via a pilus, transformation takes up naked DNA from the environment, and transduction moves DNA via a bacteriophage. These can alter genetic content but do not produce new cells by division.

Binary fission is how bacteria reproduce asexually. In this process, the circular chromosome is replicated, the cell grows, and a septum forms to divide the cytoplasm, producing two genetically identical daughter cells. Because division creates new cells without any pairing or sharing genetic material with another cell, offspring are clones of the parent. The other terms—conjugation, transformation, and transduction—are forms of horizontal gene transfer, not reproduction: conjugation transfers DNA between cells via a pilus, transformation takes up naked DNA from the environment, and transduction moves DNA via a bacteriophage. These can alter genetic content but do not produce new cells by division.