What is the process by which a bacterial cell divides into two new cells?

The process by which a bacterial cell divides into two new cells is known as binary fission. This is a form of asexual reproduction prevalent in prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria. During binary fission, the bacterial DNA replicates, and the cell elongates before the cytoplasm divides, resulting in two genetically identical daughter cells. This method of division is efficient and allows bacterial populations to grow rapidly under favorable conditions.

Other processes like mitosis and meiosis pertain to eukaryotic cells. Mitosis involves the division of a single nucleus into two nuclei, which is part of the cell cycle leading to the production of two identical daughter cells, but it does not apply to the simple division seen in bacteria. Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in gametes, but again, it is not relevant to bacterial reproduction. Fusion refers to the process where two cells combine to form one, which is not related to how bacteria reproduce. Therefore, binary fission accurately describes the way bacterial cells divide.