Growth of Bacterial Colonies

Question 1

binary fission

Answer 1

asexual reproduction in bacteria in which the bacteria split in half

Question 2

generation time

Answer 2

the time span between bacterial divisions

Question 3

lag phase

Answer 3

when bacteria are adapting to a new environment and are not reproducing at their maximum rate

Question 4

log phase/ exponential phase

Answer 4

when the rate of bacterial reproduction is close to or at its theoretical maximum, repeatedly doubling in a given time period

Question 5

stationary phase

Answer 5

when the total growth rate is zero as the number of new cells formed by binary fission is equal to the numbers of cells dying due to factors including competition for nutrients, lack of essential nutrients, an accumulation of toxic waste products and possibly lack of, or competition for, oxygen

Question 6

death phase/ decline phase

Answer 6

when reproduction has almost ceased, and the death rate of cells is increasing so that the population number falls.