In: Biology
During which phase of growth would a primary metabolite be produced?
lag phase
exponential phase
stationary phase
death phase
all are correct
Answer: Primary metabolites are produced in the growth phase or exponential phase.
Explanation:
-Primary metabolites are required for the growth, reproduction and the development of bacteria. These are produced in the growth phase or the exponential phase of the bacterial growth curve. Examples include alcohols like ethanol, lactic acid and amino acids.
-Secondary metabolites are produced by the modification of primary metabolites. They are produced towards the end of the the growth curve, i.e in the stationary phase.
Secondary metabolites do not have a typical role of growth and development but are instead important for defence mechanisms in the bacteria. It includes production of certain antibiotics like erythromycin and certain pigments.
-Due to accumulation of secondary metabolites, the growth curve moves towards death phase after the stationary phase, where in an exponential decrease of living bacterial cells take place.
- Lag phase is an an initial phase at the starting of the growth curve where the cells are metabolically active but are not dividing. This is a short phase which precedes the exponential or growth phase.
So, the answer is exponential phase.