Which phase is characterized by exponential bacterial growth?
Log phase also termed exponential phase represents balanced growth state where every cellular constituent doubles at identical specific rate. Under saturating nutrients and aeration, DNA replication initiates synchronously via DnaA ATP activation at oriC, elongation by PolIII, segregation by MukBEF SMC complex, and cytokinetic ring FtsZ with FtsA ZipA divides cells with constant interdivision time. Specific growth rate mu maximal, defined by mu equals ln2 over generation time g. Equation dN over dt equals mu N integrated yields N equals N0 times e to mu t, producing straight line on semi-log p
Ref: Prescott's Microbiology, 11th ed., Chapter 7: Exponential phase and balanced growth.