Cell division in both bacterial (prokaryotic) and eukaryotic cells produces genetically identical daughter cells, though the mechanisms differ. In bacteria, division occurs by binary fission: the single circular chromosome is replicated, the copies segregate, and the cell splits through a contractile ring–driven septum to form two genetically identical daughter cells. In eukaryotes, division typically occurs via mitosis (nuclear division) followed by cytokinesis, yielding two genetically identical nuclei and cells, with multiple linear chromosomes replicated and equally distributed. Key points

• Prokaryotic division (binary fission): genome duplication, even distribution of cytoplasm, septum formation to separate cells; no nucleus and no mitosis. This leads to two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent.

• Eukaryotic division (mitosis): nucleus divides (mitosis) with replicated chromosomes evenly partitioned, followed by cytokinesis that splits the cytoplasm, producing two genetically identical daughter cells. The process is more complex due to multiple chromosomes and organelles.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a particular organism or provide a side- by-side comparison table of prokaryotic vs eukaryotic division steps.