Question

What is the life cycle of bacteria?

Answer 1

The lifecycle of bacteria comprises four phases:

1. The lag phase: In the lag phase, bacteria do not grow.
2. They adjust to their environment and produce vitamins and amino acids needed for division.
3. The log or exponential phase: During the log phase, bacteria divides rapidly by binary fission.
4. During this phase, the bacterial population reaches its maximum rate of reproduction.
5. In this phase, metabolic activity is also very high.
6. The stationary phase: During the stationary phase, bacteria growth decreases as critical nutrients for their growth are depleted and waste products get accumulated.
7. But If the bacteria moves to another culture, rapid growth may resume.
8. The death phase: During the death phase, bacteria lose all the ability to divide and reproduce.
9. And finally, it results in the death of the bacteria.