Part c - how do binary fission and conjugation contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria?

The procedure by which one bacterium mediates genetic substance to another via direct contact is known as conjugation. At the time of conjugation, one bacterium functions as the donor of the genetic substance, while the other works as a recipient.

Binary fission is a type of asexual reproduction. It is the most usual form of reproduction witnessed in prokaryotes like bacteria. In the process of binary fission, replication of DNA and segregation takes place simultaneously.

In the process of conjugation, the bacteria mediate genes between the cells, which can transfer antibiotic resistance. While, in binary fission, a resistant bacteria will generate two cells with similar DNA, that is, both resilient to antibiotics.