In binary fission, where does the chromosome bind before replication?

In binary fission, which is the method of asexual reproduction commonly used by prokaryotes such as bacteria, the chromosome binds to the cell membrane before replication occurs. This process begins with the attachment of the single, circular chromosome to a specific point on the inner surface of the cell membrane. As the cell grows and prepares to divide, the chromosome is duplicated, and the two copies are drawn apart, ensuring that each daughter cell will receive one copy of the chromosome.

The reason this binding occurs at the cell membrane is because binary fission does not involve the formation of a nuclear membrane, as seen in eukaryotic cell division. Therefore, the cell membrane serves as the critical site for initiating the replication and distribution of genetic material in prokaryotes.

The other options do not play a role in the process of binary fission. For instance, the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus are involved in protein and lipid synthesis and modification, and the nucleus is not present in prokaryotic cells. This context confirms the appropriateness of the cell membrane as the binding site for chromosomes prior to replication.