Which of the following best describes the log phase of bacterial growth?

The log phase, also known as the exponential phase, of bacterial growth is characterized by active cell division and a significant increase in the population. During this phase, bacteria are metabolically active and their numbers double at a constant rate, making it the phase where growth occurs most rapidly. The conditions in the growth environment, such as nutrients and space, are optimal for reproduction, leading to exponential growth.

This phase is crucial because it reflects the health and vitality of the bacterial population. The rapid division means that cells are actively synthesizing new cellular components and are generally more susceptible to antibiotics, as they are not in a dormant state where metabolic activity is low.

In contrast, during the death phase, bacteria would be dying at an increasing rate, which is the opposite of what occurs in the log phase. A dormant stage implies that bacterial cell growth and division are halted, which again is not the case in the log phase. Finally, while some populations may develop resistance over time, this is not a defining characteristic of the log phase; instead, resistance can occur as a result of various environmental pressures outside the immediate growth phase context.