Editing Thiomargarita namibiensis (section)

== Reproduction ==
''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' has an ability to survive in nutrient-poor environments due to stored nitrate and sulfur, which enables the cells to stay alive without reproducing. When the cells are unable to reproduce, most cells shorten to cocci or diplococcus arrangement.<ref name="Schulz Brinkhoff Ferdelman et al 1999" /> ''T. namibiensis'' reproduces mainly through binary fission.<ref name="Winkel Salman-Carvalho Woyke et al 2016"/> Reproduction of ''T. namibiensis'' occurs on a single plane; the [[Coccus|cocci]] (a spherical bacterial cell) divide into a [[diplococcus]] or streptococcus arrangement.<ref name="Kalanetra_2005" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-01 |title=2.1: Sizes, Shapes, and Arrangements of Bacteria |url=https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Microbiology_(Kaiser)/Unit_1%3A_Introduction_to_Microbiology_and_Prokaryotic_Cell_Anatomy/2%3A_The_Prokaryotic_Cell_-_Bacteria/2.1%3A_Sizes_Shapes_and_Arrangements_of_Bacteria |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Biology LibreTexts |language=en}}</ref> A diplococcus is a pair of cocci cells that can form chains, and streptococcus is a grape-like cluster of cells.<ref>{{cite web |title=Diplococcus {{!}} bacteria |url=https://www.britannica.com/science/diplococcus |website=Britannica }}</ref> In the case of ''T. namibiensis'', a diplococci structure is observed. Despite this, its cells remain connected, forming chains within a common mucus matrix. In addition to helping with essential functions including food exchange and cell-to-cell communication, this matrix can give the bacteria protection and structural support.<ref name=":0" /> During the process of [[Fission (biology)|binary fission]], a single bacterial cell divides into two identical daughter cells, representing a comparatively basic form of [[asexual reproduction]].<ref name="Girnth Grünke Lichtschlag et al 2011"/> The cells that make up the filamentous chain may then separate into smaller segments, and each of those segments may go on to produce a new filament.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shih |first1=Yu-Ling |last2=Rothfield |first2=Lawrence |title=The Bacterial Cytoskeleton |journal=Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews |date=September 2006 |volume=70 |issue=3 |pages=729–754 |doi=10.1128/MMBR.00017-06 |pmid=16959967 |pmc=1594594 }}</ref> In a laboratory setting, the number of cells doubled over a period of 1 to 2 weeks when both nitrate and sulfide were available.<ref name="Schulz Brinkhoff Ferdelman et al 1999" />