Question

Yeast grows exponentially through budding. If one budding cycle takes 90 minutes, what will be the population of yeast after 144 hours if the initial population N0 = 5?

(a) 480

(b) 5 × 2^96

(c) 96×2^5

(d) 144×2^5

I have been asked this question in an online interview.

My query is from Biological Classification in chapter Biological Classification of Biology – Class 11

Answer 1

The correct answer is (b) 5 × 2^96

Easy explanation: After 144 hours, number of budding cycles = 144 × 60/90 = 96 cycles.

Population after ‘n’ budding cycles = N0×2^n.

Population after 96 cycles = 5 × 2^96.