Lag phase - Metabolically active, increase in size of cells. At the last of the lag phase - largest and most metabolically active cells. Stationary phase - Bacteria enter because of lack of oxygen, toxic wastes, depletion of nutrients. Death phase - decrease logarithmically. Involution forms occur.
Synchronous growth is a step wise increase, bacteria divide at the same time.
Colonies, clone, colony forming unit. Effect of nutrients - all phases are affected. Effect of physiology of inoculum - only lag phase is affected. Effect of size of inoculum - only the log is affected. Number of bacteria after a number of generations.