250px|right|thumb|growth is shown as l = log(numbers) where numbers is the number of colony forming units per ml, versus t (time.) bacterial growth is the asexual reproduction, or cell division, of a bacterium into two daughter cells, in a process called binary fission. providing no mutational event occurs the resulting daughter cells are genetically identical to the original cell. hence, "local doubling" of the bacterial population occurs. both daughter cells from the division do not necessarily survive. however, if the number surviving exceeds unity on average, the bacterial population undergoes exponential growth. the measurement of an exponential bacterial growth curve in batch culture was traditionally a part of the training of all microbiologists; the basic means requires bacterial enumeration (cell counting) by direct and individual (microscopic, flow cytometry), direct and bulk (biomass), indirect and individual (colony counting), or indirect and bulk (most probable number, turbidity, nutrient uptake) methods. models reconcile theory with the measurements. ==phases== 250px|right|thumb|bacterial growth curve\kinetic curve in autecological studies, the growth of bacteria (or other microorganisms, as protozoa, microalgae or yeasts) in batch culture can be modeled with four different phases: lag phase (a), log phase or exponential phase (b), stationary phase (c), and death phase (d). in the book "black" the bacterial growth phase classified 7 stages like - (a) lag phase (b) early log phase (c) log/exponential phase (d) early stationary phase (e) stationary phase (f) early death phase (g) death phase. # during lag phase, bacteria adapt themselves to growth conditions. it is the period where the individual bacteria are maturing and not yet able to divide. during the lag phase of the bacterial growth cycle, synthesis of rna, enzymes and other molecules occurs. # the log phase (sometimes called the logarithmic phase or the exponential phase) is a period characterized by cell doubling."http://www.ifr.ac.uk/bacanova/project_backg.html". retrieved on may 7, 2008 the number of new bacteria appearing per unit time is proportional to the present population. if growth is not limited, doubling will continue at a co
Bacteriology Population