What are the stages of bacterial growth?

The stages of bacterial growth are fundamental concepts in microbiology, illustrating how bacteria multiply and how their populations change over time. The correct answer identifies four distinct phases: lag, log, stationary, and death.

In the lag phase, bacteria are adapting to their new environment, preparing for growth by synthesizing necessary components, but there is little to no increase in cell numbers. Following this is the log phase, also known as the exponential phase, where bacteria begin to divide at a rapid rate, leading to a significant increase in population under optimal conditions.

The next stage, the stationary phase, occurs when the growth rate slows and stabilizes due to factors such as nutrient depletion or accumulation of waste products, leading to a balance between cell division and cell death. Finally, in the death phase, the number of viable bacteria decreases as resources become scarce and waste products accumulate to levels that can be toxic to the cells.

This understanding of the growth stages helps in various applications, including antibiotic treatment and managing bacterial cultures in laboratory settings. The alternative answers do not accurately reflect the typical phases recognized in the microbiological study of bacterial growth, as they either omit key phases or use terminology that is not standard in the field.