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What occurs during the death phase of a bacterial growth curve?
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During the death phase (also referred to as the decline phase) of a bacterial growth curve, the number of cells dying in the population exceeds the number of new cells being formed.12
This phase typically follows the stationary phase, during which the population size remains constant because the rate of cell division is balanced by the rate of cell death. The onset and duration of the death phase are influenced by the specific bacterial species and the composition of the growth medium. It is important to note that bacteria do not necessarily die immediately upon the depletion of nutrients; many can remain viable for extended periods.13