binary fission

Question 1

calculate the number of bacteria:
A bacterial cell has a mean division time of 30 minutes. How many cells will it have produced in 2.5 hours?

Answer 1

2.5 x 60 = 150 minutes
150/30 = 5 division
2⁵ = 32 cells

Question 2

how do bacteria reproduce and the steps?

Answer 2

Through binary fission.
1. Circular DNA and plasmids replicate
2. Cells gets bigger and the circular DNA strands move to opposite ends of the cell.
3. Cytoplasm begins to divide and new cell walls form.
4. Cytoplasm divides and two daughter cells are produced.

Question 3

state the conditions that bacteria reproduce in

Answer 3

a warm environment (between 5-63℃)
lots of nutrients
suitable pH (often pH 7)

Question 4

what happens if conditions are unfavourable?

Answer 4

cells will stop dividing, and eventually begin to die

Question 5

steps to calculate number of bacteria in a population after a certain time?

Answer 5

1. calculate number of times bacteria will divide in the given time from mean division time
2. calculate number of bacteria using: no. bacteria at start x 2^no. divisions in time period