(i) At the beginning of bifurcation bacteria grow in size by consuming food. Its nucleus is also enlarged.
(ii) Bacterial DNA is located in the center of the cell and associated with the cell membrane.
(iii) Replication of DNA takes place while attached to the cell membrane.
(iv) The cell grows in length. Growth of the cell wall and cell membrane occurs between the two ends of the cell.
(v) Cell wall and cell membrane elongation causes DNA replicas to separate in two directions.
(vi) The cytoplasm of the cell folds inwards. The nucleus then divides into two fragments. The cytoplasm folds further inward. Later the cytoplasm changes into two cells with nucleus.
(vii) Due to the turgor pressure, the newly formed daughter cells separate from each other.
(viii) The daughter cells grow to equal the mother cells. Again takes part in bifurcation. This process takes 20-30 minutes.