MathBench > Microbiology

Frank Gets Messy: in search of Exact Doubling Time

Extended Problem: How long DOES poor Frank have?

So, back to the grindstone. Let's figure out what to do about poor Frank.

Based on lab tests, Frank has 80 meningococci per mL of blood at 9am. Assuming he got infected by a single cell at 5pm, then

  1. What is the doubling rate of the meningococci cells?
  2. How long does Frank have before he reaches the LD50?

stopwatchdoubling rate?

 

eternal clockHow long does he have until he reaches the 2.5 million cell level (equivalent to the LD50)? In other words, how many more doublings will it take?

 

 

 

 

 

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