Question

A bacterial cell undergoes binary fission every twenty minutes. Starting with a single bacterium how may bacteria will be formed at the end of 3 hours?

Answer 1

The correct option is C 512
The parent cell divides to form two daughter cells through binary fission. There is a single bacterial cell which divides after every 20 minutes through binary fission. The bacterial cell divides for three hours, in which there are 180 minutes. The bacterial cell divides (180/20= 9) 9 times in 3 hours. So, the total number of bacteria formed after 3 hours are 2${}^9$= 512 cells.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.