Which phase of bacterial growth is characterized by the absence of nutrient depletion?

The log phase, also known as the exponential growth phase, is characterized by rapid cell division and active growth of bacteria. During this phase, the population of bacteria grows exponentially, as they are in an environment where nutrients are plentiful and conditions are optimal. The resources available allow for continual cellular division without the depletion that would later affect growth rates.

In the lag phase, bacteria are adjusting to their new environment and not dividing rapidly, so the growth rate is initially slow. Nutrients are still available, but the absence of rapid division is what distinguishes this phase.

The stationary phase occurs after the log phase when nutrient depletion and the accumulation of waste products begin to slow growth rates. In this phase, the rate of cell division equals the rate of cell death, leading to a stabilizing of the overall population size.

The death phase follows the stationary phase and is characterized by a decline in the number of living bacteria due to continued nutrient depletion and increased waste concentration, resulting in a greater number of cells dying than are dividing.

Thus, the log phase is the only phase where bacteria actively grow without nutrient depletion affecting their division rate.