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Microbiology · Chapter 6

The Bacterial Growth Curve

Grow a culture in a sealed flask and the population climbs, plateaus, and crashes in a predictable four-act pattern. Step through each phase — or press Play to watch the viable count rise and fall on a live plot.

A closed culture over time

The y-axis is the number of living (viable) cells on a log scale, so steady doubling shows up as a straight climb. Tap a shaded phase, use the buttons, or press Play.
The four phasestap a phase or press Play