Final answer:
A bacterial colony begins when a single bacterial cell reproduces and creates a large population of cells. The colony is made up of genetically identical cells that are clones of the original cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
A bacterial colony begins when a single bacterial cell reproduces and creates a large population of cells, all derived from that original cell. As the population grows, the bacteria form a visible mass on the solid medium, such as an agar plate. This mass is called a colony.
A bacterial colony consists of many individual bacterial cells that are genetically identical to each other. They are all clones, which means they are all descended from the same original cell. The colony may have a distinct shape, color, and texture, which can be used to identify the species of bacteria.