Binary fission

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/binary-fission

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the genetic material?Typically involves the replication of a single, circular chromosome in prokaryotes
2. How does a cell know where to split?The cell uses special proteins, like FtsZ, that form a ring where it will split. The ring tightens like a drawstring, pulling the cell apart into two.
3. Why is binary fission important for bacteria?Because it is fast and simple, bacteria can grow many times in a short time. This helps them adapt to new foods, environments, and even become stronger against medicines.

Prokaryote: A single-celled organism lacking a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.
Cytokinesis: The physical process of cell division, which divides the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two daughter cells.
Chromosome Replication: The process by which a cell makes an exact copy of its genetic material (DNA).