Which phase follows the lag phase and is characterized by rapid growth?

Which phase follows the lag phase and is characterized by rapid growth?

• A. Lag phase
• B. Stationary phase
• C. Log phase
• D. Death phase

Answer: (C)

After cells have had time to adjust to their environment, they begin dividing at a constant rate, causing the population to rise exponentially. This rapid, steady growth is the log (exponential) phase, where most cells are actively multiplying and generation time is relatively constant. Nutrients are plentiful and waste products are not yet limiting, so the number of cells increases quickly. In contrast, the lag phase involves little to no division as cells acclimate, the stationary phase occurs when growth slows and births balance deaths due to resource limits, and the death phase is when the population declines as nutrients are exhausted and waste accumulates.

After cells have had time to adjust to their environment, they begin dividing at a constant rate, causing the population to rise exponentially. This rapid, steady growth is the log (exponential) phase, where most cells are actively multiplying and generation time is relatively constant. Nutrients are plentiful and waste products are not yet limiting, so the number of cells increases quickly. In contrast, the lag phase involves little to no division as cells acclimate, the stationary phase occurs when growth slows and births balance deaths due to resource limits, and the death phase is when the population declines as nutrients are exhausted and waste accumulates.