If conditions are favorable, the generation time of bacteria:

• A. increases, resulting in slower cell division
• B. decreases, leading to faster population growth
• C. becomes unpredictable and highly variable
• D. remains unchanged regardless of environmental conditions

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of generation time: it is the time required for a bacterial population to double in number under specific conditions.
2. Recognize that favorable conditions (such as optimal temperature, pH, nutrient availability) generally enhance bacterial metabolism and replication processes.
3. Recall that when bacteria experience favorable conditions, their cellular activities speed up, which shortens the generation time.
4. Interpret that a decrease in generation time means bacteria divide more quickly, leading to faster population growth.
5. Conclude that the correct statement is that generation time decreases under favorable conditions, resulting in faster cell division and population increase.