Bipartition: What is, stages and types

Binary fission, also known as bacterial bipartition, is a asexual reproduction method present in arches, bacteria and protozoa. It implies DNA duplication and cytoplasm division simultaneously, generating two identical daughter cells. The term “bipartition” comes from the Latin “bipartitio”, which means dividing into two parts. This term consists of three different elements:

• The prefix “bi-” that indicates “two”.
• The verb “split” which means “divide”.
• The suffix “-cion” that denotes “action and effect”.

In summary, bipartition is the process of dividing something into two parts or portions.

The bacterial bipartition process can be divided into four stages:

1. DNA replication: Start with the circular DNA chromosome attached to the cell membrane, where replication begins. The DNA doubles in both directions until the two new strands are found and the replication of DNA is completed.
2. Cell growth: While DNA replication occurs, the bacterial cell increases its size. The cell membrane grows between the two copies of the chromosome, facilitating its separation towards the opposite ends of the cell and starting the segregation of the genome.
3. Genome segregation: This process is continuous, accompanying the growth of the cell and the replication of the DNA chromosome. Once the replication is finished, a copy of the chromosome separates and migrates to the opposite end of the growing cell, starting cytokinesis.
4. Cytocinesis: It begins with the formation of a protein ring, similar to the contractile ring in animal cells, which creates a groove of clivaje in the middle of the cell. This groove divides the cytoplasm into two parts. During cytokinesis, other proteins synthesize new components of the cell wall and plasma membrane, forming a septum called septum. This septum finally separates daughter cells, thus completing bacterial bipartition.

Some additional aspects to consider:

• In bacteria such as E. coli, the origin of replication (Oric) is found in a bacterium pole Before replication, migrating to the opposite pole after ending the replication.
• Binary fission It depends on proteins like FTSZwhich forms a ring in the equator of the cell and recruits other proteins necessary for cell division. Proteins such as FTSK and Murein Hydrolasase also participate in the separation of chromosomes and daughter cells.
• Some bacteria have plasmidssmall floating DNA packages, which are also replicated, but do not distribute evenly among daughter cells. This can cause genetic variations in the bacterial population.

The original cell can be divided in various ways, depending on the axis or plane in which growth and cell division occurs. The most common types of binary fission, based on the division plane, are the following:

• Cross: The elongated, roller -shaped bacteria tend to grow in length and divide in half into their transversal plane, that is, wide.
• Longitudinal: Some roller -shaped bacteria increase in thickness and are divided along, resulting in two parallel daughter cells. After division, the cell is observed as two rollers side by side, in parallel.
• Orthogonal: in certain spherical bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureusthe division occurs in an orthogonal plane, that is, perpendicular to the previous division plane, forming clusters of bacteria.

These three types of binary fission imply the division of the cell exactly in half, producing two daughter cells of equal size. However, Some bacteria experience asymmetric fission Where the cytoplasm division begins closer to one of the poles, similar to a form of geming where smaller yolks are formed than the stem cell. Before these yolks separate, they can grow until they reach almost the same size as the stem cell.

In this article you will find information about the types of bacteria.

• Transversal bipartition: This division method is widely common in bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. In protist eukaryotes, the binary fission of the protozoa is often referred to Paramecium as transverse.
• Longitudinal bipartition: This division modality is rare and is found in a few bacteria, such as marine bacteria Candidatus thiosymbion oneistiwho lives associated with nematodes. In protist eukaryotes, the binary fission of the algae is often mentioned Euglena as longitudinal.
• Orthogonal bipartition: in spherical bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureusthe division occurs in an orthogonal plane, that is, perpendicular to the previous division plane. Due to this division feature, S. aureus It usually forms clusters of bacteria.
• Asymmetric bipartition or fission: The pathogenic bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and some forms or variants of B. Subtilis They exhibit this type of asymmetric division.

Now that you know what binary bipartition or fission is, you may be interested in this article on the phases of the cell cycle.

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