Division times of bacteria

Narrative from old BASIC exercise
This simulates the experiments of Marr where individual bacteria were observed. Times from division until the new cells divided were recorded. Time is speeded up. Assume each interval = 1 second

Imagine that you are looking through a microscope. Try to count how many time intervals pass before each cell divides. If you invoke the stopwatch, it will print the age of a cell at division time. There is a flash of red at the cells that were just formed.

We can sympathize with the persons who performed these experiments. They had to examine hundreds of divisions in order to collect sufficient data for good graphs. It is not easy to keep track of organisms on a computer screen. Imagine tracking them in a film of nutrient on a microscope slide where they move and go out of focus.