Binary fission is the main type of reproduction of prokaryotic organisms. In binary fission, the prokaryotic cell first duplicates its DNA and then divides into two cells, each one receiving one complete DNA molecule. Since binary fission is a type of asexual reproduction, this process increases the prevalence of beneficial mutations in a bacterial population. Moreover, transduction refers to the process by which a virus transfers genetic information from one bacterium to another bacterium. Conjugation is also a sexual mode of transfer of DNA from a donor (F+) to a recipient (F−) bacterial cell by direct cell-to-cell contact. Finally, transformation refers to the transfer of genetic material by which bacteria take up exogenous DNA from the environment and integrate it in their genomes.
