cells are introduced into a new environment, the population goes through several stages of growth. The first stage is referred to as the lag phase, this is the period in which the cells adapt to their new environment and start to make the essential enzymes (not much cell division during this phase). After adapting, the cells enter into the phase known as logarithmic phase. In this phase the cells divide and increase exponentially in number. It is during this phase that one measures the generation time. Assuming no nutrients are added to the culture of cells, the cells will begin to reduce in their rate of growth until the number of cell being produced equals the number of cells that are dying (equilibrium); this is known as the stationary phase. Finally, more and more cells will die and decrease in the total number of cells; this final phase is known as the death phase.
             Bacteria are subject to an array of stresses and conditions within thei
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