Question

Most common method of reproduction in prokaryotes is

• A. Budding
• B. Binary fission
• C. Transduction
• D. Conjugation

Answer 1

The correct option is B Binary fission

Yeasts reproduce by budding wherein a bud on the side of yeast cell, the nucleus divides, and a daughter nucleus migrates into the bud. The buds may either remain attached to parent cell or separates to form an independent cell. This makes option A incorrect.

Transduction is the transfer of genetic material from one strain to other via viral particles. The virus infects bacteria and released viral particles carry part of bacterial genetic material which is then transferred to next host bacterium. Conjugation is transfer of genetic material between two bacterial strains via conjugation tube. Conjugation and transduction are the methods of sexual reproduction in bacteria which occur during unfavourable conditions. This makes options C and D incorrect. A prokaryotic cell, during favourable conditions, divides by binary fission to produce large number of progeny cells. The enlargement of parent cell is followed by duplication of its chromosome and formation of a central transverse septum that divides the cell into two daughter cells. This makes option B correct.