Metabolism and Growth of Bacteria and Bacterial Reproduction Methods

An increase in the number of bacteria through reproduction rather than in increases in size of individual organism , individual bacteria  remain essentially the
same size, but they reproduce rapidly. Metabolism-the physical and chemical process of a living organism by which living substance is produced and maintained. Catholicism-the
breakdown of complex substances into simpler ones with the release of energy. Anabolism-the formation of new products from broken-eown substances with the use of energy.
Metabolic rate-the speed of the metabolism. Under optimum conditions, where growth requirements are ideal, the metabolic rate is at its peak. When conditions deteriorate,
the metabolic rate decreases and the growth slows down. The method by which bacteria reproduce is called binary fission. This reproductive process occurs continuously . The original cell divides into two new totally identical cells with the formation of a septum. The septum serves to separate the two parts of the original bacterial cell into two new independent cells during binary fission.
This process is asexual , no genetic material is received by other bacteria. The new cells are exact copies of the original cell. Through binary fission, one bacterium
can easily multiply into many . Under ideal conditions bacteria multiply very rapidly .
Septum-the part of the cell wall that is formed as the cell wall moves inward toward the center of the original cell separating it into tow new independent cells.
Binary fission- the asexual process by which one bacterium replicates its own chromosome and splits into two new cells exactly like the original cell. the next is that
Generation time-the time one bacteria needs to divide into two new cells. In vitro- growth in the laboratory. Invivo- growth within a living organism.
The lag phase- the period of adaptation when bacteria are increasing their metabolic rate and building up new protoplasm.This phase may last from one hour to
several days. The log phase- the phase of maximum growth , which occurs exponentially or logarithmic-ally. Most bacteria are multiplying every 20 minutes. The rate of
growth is maintained as long as condition remain favorable. The stationary phase-the phase in which the number of bacteria being reproduced approximates the number of
those dying. during this phase, in some types of bacteria, spores may develop. The decline phase-the phase in which the number of bacteria dying exceeds the number of
those being reproduced. this happens as the nutrient level falls and the byproducts of bacterial metabolism accumulate in the medium and inhibit growth. this process
continues until most bacteria have died.
Chemotherapy-the treatment of disease with a chemical substance, called a chemotherapeutic agent, which slows, halts or reverses a disease process. the other is
An ineffective agent-compound that possesses an  microbial activity against either bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa. Antibiotic-chemical substance, produced by a
microorganism that has the capacity to inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms, or to kill them. Synthetic antibacterials-agents synthesized in the
laboratory that inhibit the growth of bacteria, or kill them. Some newer groups of the synthetic antibacterials.