Question

Which of the following statements is CORRECT regarding Figure 6.1?
A) Cells are actively growing only during the stage represented by B. 
B) No cells are reproducing during the stage represented by D. 
C) Cells are most susceptible to antibiotics during the stage represented by A. 
D) Cells are alive but not reproducing during the stage represented by A. 
E) No new cells are being produced during the stage represented by C.

Accepted Answer

During the stage represented by A, cells are alive but not actively growing or reproducing. This is known as the lag phase, during which cells are adapting to their new environment and preparing to enter the exponential growth phase (represented by B). No cells are reproducing during the stationary phase (represented by D), and the death phase (represented by C) is characterized by a decline in the number of living cells as they die off. The susceptibility of cells to antibiotics may vary depending on their growth phase, but there is no evidence in Figure 6.1 to support option C. Similarly, there is no evidence to suggest that no new cells are being produced during the stage represented by C, as option E suggests.