What process do bacteria use to divide into two new cells?

The process that bacteria use to divide into two new cells is known as binary fission. This is a straightforward and efficient method of asexual reproduction that allows bacteria to quickly multiply. In binary fission, the bacterial cell grows until it reaches a certain size, replicates its DNA, and then divides into two identical daughter cells.

Mitosis, while a process involved in the cellular division of eukaryotic organisms (those with a defined nucleus), is not the method used by bacteria, which are prokaryotic and do not undergo mitosis. Likewise, meiosis is a specialized process that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms for the formation of gametes and does not apply to bacterial division. Cellular respiration, on the other hand, is the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy and does not relate to cell division at all.

Understanding binary fission is crucial for anyone studying microbiology or working in settings where bacteria play a significant role, such as in salons where sanitation and hygiene are paramount.