The latent phase in the viral growth curve and the lag phase of the bacterial growth curve are equivalent and represent the time it takes for the virus or bacterium to adapt to the culture conditions and begin growing.

Question

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The latent phase in the viral growth curve represents the period after the virus infects a host cell but before new virions are released, while the lag phase of the bacterial growth curve is the period where bacteria adapt to new conditions before beginning to divide. They are not equivalent as they describe different processes in viruses and bacteria, respectively.

The Latent Phase in the Viral Growth Curve and the Lag