Michigan Food Safety Management Practice Test

What term describes the increase in the number of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi?

1. Infection

2. Mutation

3. Multiplication

4. Pollution

The correct answer is: Multiplication

The term that best describes the increase in the number of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, is multiplication. This term specifically refers to the process by which microorganisms reproduce and increase in number over time through various mechanisms, including binary fission in bacteria. When microorganisms multiply, they can reach levels that may impact food safety, health, and the environment. Understanding multiplication is crucial in contexts like food safety management, as it highlights the potential for microbial growth conditions to lead to spoilage or illness. Other terms like infection refer more to the process by which pathogens invade a host and cause disease, rather than focusing on the growth or reproduction aspect. Mutation indicates a change in the genetic material of an organism, which doesn’t directly relate to their quantity. Pollution generally concerns the contamination of natural resources, and while it can involve microorganisms, it does not specifically address their increase. Thus, multiplication is the precise term for describing the growth in numbers of these microorganisms.