This activity asks you to consider various methods of counting or estimating the size of bacterial populations and to select the method that will provide the most accurate data for plotting a bacterial growth curve. Which of the following methods would be most appropriate for gathering data to plot a bacterial growth curve throughout the four phases?

a. electronic cell counter
b. plate count
c. Any of these methods will provide reliable data for plotting a growth curve.
d. indirect estimate based on turbidity
e. direct microscopic count