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Multiple Choice
Which of the following reactions is characterized by the fastest rate of population-doubling time in microbial growth curves?
A
Lag phase
B
Death phase
C
Stationary phase
D
Log phase
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the microbial growth curve, which consists of four phases: lag phase, log (exponential) phase, stationary phase, and death phase.
Recognize that the lag phase is the initial period where microbes adapt to their environment, and there is little to no cell division.
Identify the log phase as the period where microbes experience exponential growth, meaning the population doubles at a constant and rapid rate.
Note that during the stationary phase, the growth rate slows as resources become limited, and the rate of cell division equals the rate of cell death.
Understand that in the death phase, the number of dying cells exceeds the number of new cells being produced, leading to a decline in population. Therefore, the log phase is characterized by the fastest rate of population-doubling time.