binary fission

binary fission
fission into two organisms approximately equal in size. Cf. multiple fission.
[1895-1900]

* * *

      asexual reproduction by a separation of the body into two new bodies. In the process of binary fission, an organism duplicates its genetic material, or deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA), and then divides into two parts ( cytokinesis), with each new organism receiving one copy of DNA.

      Binary fission is the primary method of reproduction of prokaryotic (prokaryote) organisms. In protists (protist), binary fission is often differentiated into types, such as transverse or longitudinal, depending on the axis of cell separation. Regular transverse fission in some organisms, such as tapeworms (tapeworm) and scyphostome polyps (polyp), is called strobilation. Commonly, this results in a chain, called a strobilus, of the fission products—the proglottids of tapeworms and the ephyrae of scyphozoan jellyfish; each proglottid or ephyra matures in turn and separates from the end of the strobilus. A few metazoan (multicellular) species regularly undergo a body division into several units simultaneously, a process called fragmentation. planarian fission and fragmentation generally represent direct reproduction in which each portion regenerates missing parts to become a complete new animal. Strobilation products, however, are only indirectly reproductive: proglottids are not regenerative but carry and release great numbers of eggs and die; ephyrae do not produce new polyps but mature into sexually reproducing medusae (medusa), the larvae of which become polyps.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Binary fission — is the form of asexual reproduction and cell division used by prokaryotic organisms (such as bacteria or archea). This process results in the reproduction of a living prokaryotic cell by division into two parts which each have the potential to… …   Wikipedia

  • binary fission — n reproduction of a cell by division into two approximately equal parts compare MULTIPLE FISSION * * * fission of a cell in which the cell divides into two approximately equal daughter parts …   Medical dictionary

  • binary fission — binary fission. См. деление надвое. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • binary fission — n. asexual reproduction in protists by a splitting of the cell into two approximately equal parts …   English World dictionary

  • binary fission — noun : reproduction of a cell by division into two approximately equal parts the binary fission of protozoans * * * Biol. fission into two organisms approximately equal in size. Cf. multiple fission. [1895 1900] * * * binary fission noun… …   Useful english dictionary

  • binary fission — dvidalis dalijimasis statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. binary fission; bipartition vok. binäre Spaltung, f rus. деление на две части, n pranc. bipartition, f; fission binaire, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • binary fission — noun Date: 1897 reproduction of a cell by division into two approximately equal parts < the binary fission of protozoans > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • binary fission — A form of asexual reproduction in which a cell, or organism divides into approximately equal parts; see transverse fission …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • binary fission — bi′nary fis′sion n. cbl fission into two organisms roughly equal in size …   From formal English to slang

  • binary fission — Asexual reproduction in which a cell or an organism separates into two cells …   Dictionary of microbiology

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”