Bacteria Reproduction

1. Bacterial Reproduction

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Introduction
Bacteria can reproduce in one of two ways:
1. Asexually
2.Sexually

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Asexual Reproduction
Binary Fission:
 one parent involved
 offspring are identical to parent & each other
Advantages:
1. simple: only 1 parent
2. offspring are fully formed (no maturation needed)
3. very fast (20 min. in ideal conditions)
 after 24 hrs:
1 bacterium 2x106
kg of cells
(enough to cover the earth)

4. Asexual Reproduction
Disadvantages:
• no genetic variety
• one unfavourable environmental condition can wipe out
whole population
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Asexual Reproduction
Binary Fission:

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Asexual Reproduction
Binary Fission:
Ecoli.mov

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Sexual Reproduction
 two parents involved
 offspring are genetically different
to parents & to each other
Advantages:
 genetic variety i.e. some are able to adapt to
unfavourable conditions (ex: antibiotic resistance)
Disadvantages:
1.more complex: slower because must find a
compatible partner
2.no new individuals produced
(i.e. no increase in population)

8. Bacterial Conjugation
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• plasmid copies itself
• passes through pili
(cytoplasmic bridge) into
recipient cell
•cells separate with both
cells containing the
plasmid
plasmid
donor recipient
cell (+) cell ( - )
pili

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Homework
 Page 112 # 4, 5, 7

10. Bacterial Conjugation
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