Log phase

Log Phase

The log phase or exponential phase is a period in the life cycle of a bacterial population during which the number of cells doubles during each unit of measured time, resulting in exponential growth. This phase is characterized by the active division of cells and is considered the period of maximum growth.

Overview

The log phase is one of the four stages in the bacterial growth curve, which also includes the lag phase, stationary phase, and death phase. During the log phase, bacteria are highly active metabolically and are growing at their maximum rate. This phase continues until nutrients become scarce or waste products become too concentrated, at which point the growth rate slows and the bacteria enter the stationary phase.

Characteristics

During the log phase, bacteria have a constant growth rate and a constant generation time, which is the time it takes for the population to double. The rate of growth during this phase is dependent on the growth conditions, which can include factors such as temperature, pH, and the availability of nutrients.

Bacteria in the log phase are also more susceptible to antibiotics, as many antibiotics target processes that occur during active growth and division. Therefore, antibiotics are often most effective during the log phase.

Measurement

The log phase can be measured and observed using a spectrophotometer, which measures the amount of light absorbed by a bacterial culture. As the number of bacteria increases during the log phase, the culture becomes more turbid, or cloudy, which increases the amount of light absorbed. This allows scientists to track the growth of the bacteria and determine when the log phase begins and ends.

See Also

• Bacterial growth
• Bacterial growth curve
• Lag phase
• Stationary phase
• Death phase

Log phase Resources
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