Question

Assume you inoculated 100 cells into 100 ml of nutrient broth. You then inoculated 100 cells of the same species into 200 ml of nutrient broth. After incubation for 24 hours, you should have:_________
A) the same number of cells in both.
B) more cells in the 100 ml.
C) more cells in the 200 ml.
D) The answer cannot be determined based on the information provided.

Answer 1

Answer:

D) The answer cannot be determined based on the information provided

Explanation:

The number of organisms in the medium depends on the growth rate of the organism, and the growth is affected by the amount of nutrient available. Microorganisms have different phases of growth:  

• the lag phase,  
• the log phase,  
• the stationary phase,  
• the death phase

In the log phase microorganisms use up the nutrients and excrete waste. Microorganisms in the log phase will continue to grow until nutrient runs out, or they can no longer tolerate the toxic metabolites produced.

Since they are of the same species, it follows that the ones in the 200ml broth would have more nutrients to grow over time, and produce more cells. However if the generation time is more than 12 hours, they would both have the same cells. So the information is not enough to determine the answer.