How quickly can some bacterial populations double under ideal conditions?

Under ideal conditions, bacterial populations grow through a process called binary fission, where one cell divides into two. The speed at which this occurs, known as the generation time, varies significantly depending on the species and environmental factors.12

While many bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, can double approximately every 20 minutes under optimal conditions, some species are even faster. For instance, Clostridium perfringens is recognized as one of the fastest-growing bacteria, with an optimum generation time of about 10 minutes. Conversely, other species grow much more slowly; for example, Mycobacterium tuberculosis has a generation time typically ranging from 12 to 16 hours.132

This rapid, exponential growth occurs during the log phase of the bacterial growth curve, provided that nutrients are abundant and environmental conditions remain favorable.12