Define microbial growth. Ftsz and septum are important features of some binary fission process. Explain the DNA replication conundrum and how some species are able to overcome it. How is peptidoglycan synthesis done during cell growth? What does autolysin do? What does penicillin block? What does MreB determine in terms of cell morphology as well as peptidoglycan synthesis? What about bacteria that do not have MreB? How do you calculate final cell number during growth? You should be able to draw a basic growth curve and point out where the growth phases correspond to. Add a diauxic shift to your growth curve. What does it represent? Sterilization vs disinfection vs decontamination Explain decimal reduction time and thermal death time. Autoclave is necessary to kill spores because? What does pasteurization accomplish? What other mean of killing or removing microbes are there? -static vs -cidal vs - lytic agents What are the differences between MIC and MBC, and how are they conventionally determined? Sterilants vs disinfectants vs sanitizers vs antiseptics/germicides Solution Define microbial growth. Microbial growth refers to increase in cell number of microorganisms. Microbial growth generally takes place due to binary fission of the microbial cells. This growth is influenced by nutrients available and environmental conditions where the cells are growing. Sterilization vs disinfection vs decontamination Sterilization refers to complete elimination of microorganisms and spores. Disinfection is the process of elimination of some of the pathogenic microorganism but not all. Decontamination is the process of reducing the load of microorganisms from used items before their disposal. Autoclave is necessary to kill spores because spores are resistant forms of microbes which are very difficult to kill. Autoclave runs on the principle of steam under pressure. Here the high pressure combined with moist steam effectively kills bacteria along with spores. What does pasteurization accomplish? Pasteurization is a process where heat is used to accomplish killing of pathogenic bacteria from foods thus making them safe to eat..