Which of the following statements best compares cell division in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
- A. Eukaryotes divide by budding; prokaryotes by mitosis
- B. Eukaryotes use binary fission; prokaryotes by meiosis
- C. Eukaryotes divide by mitosis; prokaryotes by binary fission
- D. Both use mitosis by cell division
Explanation
Mitosis needs a spindle and organised chromosomes, which only eukaryotes possess, while a prokaryote simply replicates its single circular chromosome and splits by binary fission. This is much faster, which is why bacteria can divide every twenty minutes. Meiosis is confined to eukaryotes producing gametes.
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