Answer :
To answer this question, we need to consider what organism or substance is being considered for growth. Typically, the growth conditions refer to something biological like bacteria, yeast, or even plants.
For most common bacteria, such as E. coli, optimal growth occurs at around 37 degrees Celsius. This temperature is also the average human body temperature, which is why many human-associated bacteria thrive at this temperature.
Let's evaluate the given options for what would generally be ideal conditions for microbial growth:
(A) 100 degrees C for 1-2 hours: This is the boiling point of water, at which only certain extremophiles known as hyperthermophilic organisms could potentially survive, but for most life forms, this temperature would be lethal.
(B) 25 degrees C for 1-2 hours: 25 degrees Celsius is common room temperature; while certain plant tissues or cold-tolerant microbes might grow slowly, this short duration would not be sufficient for significant growth.
(C) 37 degrees C for 20-40 hours: 37 degrees Celsius is ideal for many bacteria because it allows them to thrive and reproduce rapidly over a sufficient time period. This is often the temperature used in laboratory settings for cultivating bacterial cultures.
(D) 25 degrees C for 6-12 hours: Like option B, this temperature may support growth for some organisms, but the time might not be sufficient for measurable growth.
(E) 50 degrees C for 20-40 hours: 50 degrees Celsius can be tolerated by some thermophilic microbes but is generally too high for the majority of common bacteria to optimally grow.
Therefore, the best conditions from the options for general bacterial growth are represented by option (C): 37 degrees C for 20-40 hours.
