Question

A slow growth rate for a bacterium indicates a

a. Long generation time
b. Requires a very short time to grow
c. Short generation time
d. Long lag phase

Answer 1

The generation time of a bacterium refers to the time it takes for a population of cells to double through binary fission. It varies between different bacterial species and can be influenced by various factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

In biology, the generation time of a bacterium refers to the time it takes for a population of cells to double through one round of binary fission. It is also known as the doubling time. For example, Escherichia coli, a common bacterium, can double in as little as 20 minutes under ideal conditions, while Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, has a generation time of 15-20 hours.