The Bacterial Growth Process
You probably do not want to hear this but there is such a thing as good bacteria. There are some that are beneficial to the human body, such as those found in the lower intestine. The e coli bacteria located there aids the digestive system and gives the body Vitamin K. Without the good, scientists would not be able to recognize how harmful bacteria actually work. So put down that bottle of hand sanitizer and use this article as a chance to learn about bacterial growth.
It all begins with two daughters. They are exact clones and will split and multiple very rapidly. Both bacteria and viruses share this trait of exponential multiplication. Of course, the environment and conditions greatly determine how fast they will grow and multiply. With the right conditions, they can multiply as many times as they wish or as much as the environment will support their bacterial growth.
The first stage is called the Lag Phase. During this phase there must be a favorable climate in which the bacteria live. They require water, food, oxygen, the right temperature, as well as a proper pH balance to ensure that the environment is not too acidic. If all these conditions are present, the bacterium will enter the second stage called the Exponential Phase. This is the time when the bacteria will multiply rapidly.
The growth phase ends with the Stationary Phase. This slowing down is due to food sources becoming depleted and the waste begins corrupting their environment. The last phase is the Death Phase. This phase is where the bacteria die due to lack of food and a benevolent environment. The catch is that there is no definitive timeline as long as conditions are favorable. This could spell out thousands of bacterial disease clones just looking to find a better environment in which to thrive. The only way to be rid of the bacterium is to kill them off or take one of their basic needs away.
Bacterial growth can be stopped easily with a few precautions. The first is to never eat contaminated food that has been exposed to prime temperatures. The second is by practicing good sanitary practices, such as washing your hands thoroughly before every meal and once again after the meal. You can kill bacteria by eliminating just one of their necessities and not letting them divide exponentially.
By Health Editor
