Cell Division in Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms or microbes, which include bacteria, archaea, algae, fungus, protozoa and viruses. The process by which cells duplicate themselves is referred to as cell division. Depending on the type of organism dividing, there are many types of cell division. Different and more complicated forms of cell division have evolved over time in organisms. Most prokaryotes or bacteria divide their cells by binary fission.

Microbiology and Cell Division:

Mitosis and meiosis are the two processes that are involved in the process of cell division. When people talk about “cell division,” they’re usually referring to mitosis, the process of forming new body cells. The form of cell division that produces egg and sperm cells is called meiosis. Mitosis is an essential part of existence.

Microbiology is the study of viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, slime molds and protozoa which are tiny organisms. The techniques used to investigate and handle these tiny, mostly unicellular animals are not used in most other scientific investigations.

Cell Division Types

The first is vegetative division, in which each daughter cell replicates the parent cell. The second is mitosis in which each daughter cell duplicates the parent cell.Meiosis, which creates four haploid daughter cells is the second.

Mitosis: It is the process through which cells double themselves. Mitosis can be found in practically every cell in the body, including those in the eyes, skin, hair and muscles.

Meiosis: Instead of identical daughter cells, sperm or egg cells are created in this type of cell division.

Binary Fission: Single-celled organisms such as bacteria reproduce by replicating themselves.

What is the method of cell division in a bacteria?

Binary fission is used by prokaryotes like bacteria to reproduce. Unicellular organisms can only create new individuals by cell division. In both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the process of cell reproduction results in the generation of two daughter cells that are genetically indistinguishable from the parent cell.

Basic strategies for cell reproduction in microbiology:

Binary Fission:

Binary fission, or prokaryotic cell division, is less difficult and faster than eukaryotic cell division. Due to the velocity with which bacteria divide their cells, bacterial populations can quickly grow. Bacteria’s single circular DNA chromosome is not encased in a nucleus, but rather occupies a specific position within the cell called the nucleoid. The nucleoid’s DNA is linked to proteins that help package the molecule into a small size, just like in eukaryotes. However, some of the proteins involved in chromosomal compaction in eukaryotes are related to the packing proteins of bacteria. The origin, or start of replication, is near to the chromosome’s binding location to the plasma membrane . DNA replication is bidirectional, with both strands of the DNA loop traveling outward from the origin at the same time. Each origin point advances away from the cell-wall attachment toward opposing ends of the cell as additional double strands are created. The expanding membrane aids in the transport of the chromosomes as the cell lengthens. Cytoplasmic separation begins once the chromosomes have cleared the midpoint of the elongated cell. From the cell’s perimeter to its core, a septum forms between the nucleoids. The daughter cells separate once the new cell walls are in place.

Budding in bacteria:

Some Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes (a.k.a. Low G+C Gram-Positive Bacteria) and prosthecate Proteobacteria have been found to be budding. Although the eukaryotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been extensively investigated for budding, the molecular principles of bud production in bacteria are unknown. Below is a schematic illustration of budding in a Planctomyces species.

Intracellular offspring production by some Firmicutes

Multiple intracellular progeny are produced by Epulopiscium spp., Metabacterium polyspora, and the Segmented Filamentous Bacteria (SFB). This appears to be the only means for some of these bacteria to reproduce. Endospore creation in Bacillus subtilis is similar to intracellular offspring development in these bacteria.

Conclusion:

Virtually all cells divide as part of their life cycle. One cell divides into two new cells in the process of cell division. Binary fission is the process by which most bacterial cells divide. Cell division occurs in eukaryotes in two stages: mitosis and cytokinesis. Microbiology is the scientific study of microorganisms, which include protozoans, algae, molds, bacteria, and viruses, among others. Microbiology is concerned with the structure, function, and categorization of these organisms, as well as methods for managing and exploiting their activity.