counting number of cells - (May/22/2009 )

When we deal with bacteria, we take the OD and then plate on agar and see how the OD correlates with the number of bacteria. WHy is this important?

you first try to establish a correlation between CFU and OD. Then, when you will need to know the exact concentration of your culture, you only need to read the OD.
You have to establish the correlation for each specie of bacteria.

yeah but wats the use of knowing the number of bacteria present?? We only need to know that there are enough viable bacteria present right? The number doesnt make a difference right?

enough? enough for what? whyat are you trying to accomplish?

Im trying to identify one of the product produced by the bacteria.. so its not important to know how many cells there are right.. only interested in the product.. then why do researcher take their time to calculate how many cels are there?

Because they want to know. You apparently don't.

Some time it's important to know.
It's better to standardize all your procedure. If once you have a great yield of product produced by your bacteria, you would like to be able to reproduce it, don't you? Then you need to know how many bacteria you have, how long you let them grow, at which temperature and so on.