what are the factors needed for the growth of bacteria?
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "bacteria 'growth factors'" to get these possible sources:
http://textbookofbacteriology.net/nutgro.html
http://student.ccbcmd.edu/courses/bio141/lecguide/unit6/metabolism/growth/factors.html
http://www.aber.ac.uk/biology/MicroSite/young2.html
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=374571
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:kZZ9Iv2krmcJ:science.nhmccd.edu/biol/wellmeyer/lecture/bgrowth.doc+bacteria+%22growth+factors%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=16&gl=us&client=safari
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
The factors needed for the growth of bacteria vary depending on the species, but some common factors include:
1. Nutrients: Bacteria require a source of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. These can come from organic or inorganic sources, and may be obtained through various metabolic processes.
2. Temperature: Bacteria have specific temperature ranges at which they can grow. Some bacteria prefer cooler temperatures (psychrophiles), while others prefer warmer temperatures (thermophiles).
3. pH: Bacteria have specific pH ranges at which they can grow. Some bacteria prefer acidic conditions (acidophiles), while others prefer alkaline conditions (alkalophiles).
4. Oxygen: Bacteria can be classified based on their oxygen requirements. Some bacteria require oxygen to grow (obligate aerobes), some cannot tolerate oxygen (obligate anaerobes), and some can grow in the presence or absence of oxygen (facultative anaerobes).
5. Moisture: Bacteria require a certain level of moisture for growth. Most bacteria prefer environments with moderate moisture levels, although some can survive in very dry conditions (desiccation-tolerant bacteria) or in environments with high moisture levels (hydrophilic bacteria).
6. Time: Bacteria require a sufficient amount of time to reproduce and grow. The time it takes for bacteria to double in number is called the generation time.
These factors interact with each other, and the optimal conditions for bacterial growth can vary depending on the specific species. It is important to note that while bacteria are capable of surviving in a wide range of conditions, not all conditions are suitable for their growth.