Question

Cells are rapidly growing and dividing during the __________ of growth.

a. log phase
b. death phase
c. stationary phase
d. indeterminant phase
e. lag phase

Answer 1

The log phase is the period of rapid cell division and growth, where cells are highly susceptible to antibiotics such as penicillin.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cells are rapidly growing and dividing during the log phase of growth. During the log phase, also known as the exponential growth phase, cells divide at an exponential rate, and their number increases rapidly. This phase is characterized by constant growth rate and uniform metabolic activity, making bacteria highly susceptible to antibiotics that inhibit cell-wall synthesis, like penicillin. In comparison, the lag phase is a period of adjustment before growth where cells are metabolically active but not dividing, while the stationary phase is when the growth ceases due to nutrient depletion or waste accumulation, leading to an equilibrium of cell birth and death rates. Finally, the death phase occurs when cells die off due to a significant decrease in metabolic activity and energy resources.