How do bacteria reproduce by binary fission?

Most prokaryotes, including bacteria, reproduce through a process called binary fission, an asexual method that yields two identical daughter cells.12

The process follows these primary steps:

• DNA Replication: The cell first duplicates its genetic material, typically DNA.23
• Elongation: The cell grows in volume and elongates, ensuring each future daughter cell will receive one copy of the genetic material.12
• Septum Formation: A dividing partition, or septum, forms at 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.21
• Cytokinesis: The cytoplasm divides on either side of the septum, and the cell wall completes the separation, resulting in two distinct daughter cells.12

Under optimal conditions, this process can occur rapidly, allowing for exponential population growth.2