Hence, if we start from one bacteria, it divides after every generation time as follows-
Hence, After n generations, no of bacteria will be
N=1 x 2n ………………………………………………. Eq 9.1
But assume if number of bacteria at time 0 is N o , then
N=No X 2n ……………………………………………..Eq 9.2
Log N=Log N0 +n log10 2……………………………...Eq 9.3
n= 3.3 (Log10 N-Log10 N0 )…………………………….Eq 9.4
Eq 9.2 can be used to determine number of bacteria, if initial number of bacteria and number of generation is known where as Eq 9.4 can directly been used to calculate number of generations.
Bacterial growth in a liquid media is given in Figure 9.3 and it has 4 distinct phases:
1. Lag Phase- The single cell inoculation into the liquid media doesn't start dividing as per its generation time. During this phase bacteria gets adjusted to the new media and grow in size instead of dividing into daughter cells. In this phase, bacteria synthesize the most crucial enzymes or co-enzyme present in traces and required for optimal growth and multiplication. In addition, cell is metabolically active and be busy in synthesizing large amount of protoplasm. At the end of this phase, each bacterial cell divides and enter into the next phase of active multiplication.