Forms of Bacterial Reproduction

The forms of bacterial reproduction are binary fission, endospore formation, and conjugation and transformation. Let's see what each of them is.

Binary fission:

It is the process by which most bacteria divide. The expression binary fission means "Split in two". This process is simpler than mitosis. Some of the features of mitosis are not seen in binary fission. Unlike mitosis in binary fission, there are no centrioles or spindle fibers. During binary fission, the bacterial nucleic acid is duplicated. Then a membrane begins to grow between the duplicated nucleic acid and the cell wall divides to form two independent bacterial cells. Bacteria can complete binary fission in as little as 20 minutes.

Endospore formation:

Bacteria become inactive when conditions are not favorable. Under adverse conditions, many bacilli-type bacteria form a hard coating called the endospore. An endospore is a spore that forms inside the cell. When the cover is already formed, the bacillus ruptures and the endospore is released. The free endospore remains inactive as long as conditions are not favorable. It is highly resistant to heat, freezing, drying, radiation, and some toxic chemicals. As conditions are again favorable, the endospore germinates. Only a few species of bacteria produce spores. Its spores are virtually anywhere. That is why you need to find ways to destroy spores before and during surgery, when canning food, and in laboratories. Generally, the bacteria are killed in an autoclave, which keeps the bacteria at high pressure and temperature for the time necessary to destroy them.

Conjugation and transformation:

Conjugation is the transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to another through direct cell-to-cell contact. This happens by forming a bridge between the pilli of two bacteria. Once the bridge is formed, the bacteria exchange plasmids, which are the smallest units of genetic material in bacteria, containing 1 or 2 genes. Transformation is another way of moving genes between bacteria. Transformation is the process by which genetic material that is absorbed from the environment replaces part of the bacterium's DNA. A bacterium can cause disease because, by transformation, it has inherited the genes that cause a certain disease.