Question

A student drew the diagram below to model the process of binary fission, which is a type of asexual reproduction.



Which of these best explains why the daughter cells produced by binary fission are identical?
A.
Binary fission involves a single parent cell, so there is only one set of genetic information that can be duplicated and passed on to the daughter cells.
B.
Binary fission occurs when the genetic information of two parent cells combines to produce daughter cells that are identical to each other but different from the parent cells.
C.
Binary fission occurs when two identical parent cells combine, so both of the daughter cells receive identical genetic information.
D.
Binary fission occurs when the genetic information of a single parent cell splits to produce identical daughter cells that have half as much genetic information as the parent cell.

Answer 1

A. Binary fission involves a single parent cell, so there is only one set of genetic information that can be duplicated and passed on to the daughter cells.

Explanation: before the cell divides its DNA is replicated, and each daughter cell receives a complete copy of that same DNA, so the daughters are genetically identical to the parent and to each other.