Meaning & use
binary fission
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Meaning
noununcountablebiology
a form of asexual reproduction in which one cell splits into two identical cells
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun; no plural form is common.
Patterns
- binary fission occurs
- reproduce by binary fission
Bacteria reproduce by binary fission.
In binary fission, the parent cell divides into two daughter cells.
Binary fission is a simple way for single-celled organisms to multiply.
Common combinations
- bacterial binary fission
- Bacterial binary fission can happen every 20 minutes in ideal conditions.
- undergo binary fission
- Some protists undergo binary fission to reproduce.
- process of binary fission
- The process of binary fission starts with DNA replication.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cell division
- Broader term; binary fission is a specific type in prokaryotes.
- asexual reproduction
- General category; binary fission is one method.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: binary fission or mitosis? binary fission or fusion?
binary fission vs mitosis
Mitosis is cell division in complex organisms; binary fission occurs in simple cells like bacteria.
binary fission vs fusion
Fusion means joining together, the opposite of fission.
Practice
Which organism typically reproduces by binary fission?
Choose one answer.
Binary fission is common in single-celled organisms like bacteria. Ferns, humans, and birds reproduce sexually or by other means.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “binary fission”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.