What is Happening during Stationary Phase After a period of

What is Happening during Stationary Phase? After a period of rapid growth (log phase), bacterial growth rates will slow and enter the stationary phase. The number of viable cells no longer increases, but instead stays constant. In this activity you will indicate the statements that correctly describe what is happening during stationary phase. Select each statement that accurately describes what is happening to bacterial cultures during stationary phase. Cells are not increasing in number because they have not yet adjusted to the nutrient availability in the new media. The number of cells that are dying is balanced by the number of new cells that are being formed. The cells are likely running out of nutrients. Harmful waste products may be accumulating. The cells are dead; therefore, the number is staying constant.

Solution

Bacterial growth curve is described in 4 phases called lag phase, log phase or exponential phase, stationary phase and death or decline phase. Lag phase is the phase in which the cells adjust to the culture environment, obtain nutients and grow in size and become ready for cell division. In log or exponential phase cells rapidly undergo division and increase in number exponentially. In stationary phase, the cells that are newly formed are in equilibrium with cell undergoing death. In this phase, the nutrients may be depleted and secondary metabolites are accumulated in the medium. These may be harmful products to bacterial cells. Death or decline phase is the phase all the cells undergo death.

Therefore, in stationary phase due to nutrient depletion and accumulation of waste products, the cells formed are equal to cells undergoig death and the stationary phase is represented by straight line. The options 2, 3 and 4 are correct.