Generation Time Calculator

Work out generation time instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Generation Time Calculator

Counts the number of doublings between two cell counts and divides the elapsed time by it to give the mean generation time.

Formula

Generation time

Number of generations = log2(final / initial); generation time = elapsed time / generations

Worked example

With the default values below, Generation Time Calculator returns Generation time of 0.5463. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Initial countaccepts 1–1,000,000,000,000: 10,000
Final countaccepts 1–1,000,000,000,000: 1,600,000
Elapsed timeaccepts 0.05–500 h: 4 h

Results

Generation time: 0.5463 h
Generation time: 32.78 min
Number of divisions: 7.322
Divisions per hour: 1.830

Step by step

1Values used
2Generation time
3Generation time= 0.5463 h
4Generation time= 32.78 min
5Number of divisions= 7.322
6Divisions per hour= 1.830

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is generation time the same as doubling time?

For a bacterial culture yes; in demography generation time means the average age of reproduction instead.

What slows generation time?

Nutrient limitation, suboptimal temperature, low water activity and inhibitory metabolites all lengthen it.