The rate, or speed, at which the number of organisms in a population increases. This can be calculated by dividing the change in the number of organisms from one point in time to another by the amount of time in the interval between the points of time. The phrase is most often used to describe growth of cells or microorganisms in laboratory cultures.

---

From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.