On the bacterial growth graphic , in which step the bacterial cell numbers dublicate? a. Lag phase b. Log phase c. S tationary phase d. Death phase

The correct answer is b. Log phase.<br /><br />In the bacterial growth curve, the log phase (also known as the exponential phase) is the stage where the bacterial cell numbers double. During this phase, the bacteria undergo rapid cell division and exponential growth. The other phases of the bacterial growth curve are:<br /><br />a. Lag phase: This is the initial phase where the bacteria are adapting to the new environment and preparing for cell division, but there is little to no cell division occurring.<br /><br />c. Stationary phase: In this phase, the rate of cell division slows down and the number of new cells being produced is balanced by the number of cells dying. The overall cell population remains relatively constant.<br /><br />d. Death phase: This is the final phase where the number of dying cells exceeds the number of new cells being produced, leading to a decline in the overall cell population.<br /><br />Therefore, the correct answer is b. Log phase, as this is the stage where the bacterial cell numbers double.