How do bacteria produce clones through binary fission?

Bacteria reproduce through a process called binary fission, which is a form of asexual reproduction that results in the creation of genetically identical daughter cells, or clones.123

The process follows these key steps:

• DNA Replication: The bacterium first duplicates its genetic material, typically its DNA.2
• Cell Elongation: Following replication, the cell grows and elongates in volume.42
• Septum Formation: A dividing partition, known as a septum, forms toward the midpoint of the cell. This is facilitated by a protein called FtsZ, which forms a ring to guide the cell membrane inward. In gram-positive bacteria, the septum grows inward from the plasma membrane, while in gram-negative bacteria, the side walls pinch inward.24
• Cytokinesis: The cytoplasm divides on either side of the septum, resulting in two identical daughter cells that eventually separate.42

Because this process involves no genetic recombination, the resulting offspring are clones of the parent cell, though spontaneous mutations can occasionally occur during DNA replication.12