Unlike somatic cells in humans, bacterial cells undergo binary fission. State two differencesbetween these forms of cell division.

Process and Complexity: In somatic cells, cell division occurs through a complex process called mitosis, which involves multiple stages (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase) followed by cytokinesis. In contrast, bacterial cells undergo a simpler process called binary fission, which does not involve these stages. Instead, the bacterial cell replicates its DNA and then divides into two identical daughter cells.

Genetic Material Handling: During mitosis in somatic cells, the chromosomes are carefully aligned and separated by the mitotic spindle to ensure each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. In binary fission, the bacterial DNA, which is typically a single circular chromosome, is replicated and the two copies are segregated into the daughter cells without the formation of a mitotic spindle.