Lag phase — the “tooling-up” period during which cells synthesize DNA, amino acids, and enzymes necessary for cell growth.
Log phase — the period of active growth.
Stationary phase — cells are synthesizing compounds that make them more resistant to certain environmental conditions but they are dying as fast as they are dividing.
Death phase — cells are dying faster than they are dividing.
Phase of prolonged decline – very gradual decrease in the number of viable cells on the population.