In order to develop adequate models for the kinetics of growth of cell populations,it is necessary to know the generation time distribution for the individualcells and the degree to which the generation times of related individuals areassociated. In essence, the generation time of a cell is that period between successivecell divisions, that is, the period between the birth of the cell by fissionof its parent and the later instant at which its own fission occurs. In practice,the generation times of cells are measured by recording the passage of someparticular state during or near fission as the individual cells are observed atsuccessive times. This state must be chosen with some caution since any variabilityin its passage will cause a corresponding loss of resolution in the measuredgeneration time distribution and will lead to an unduly negative correlationbetween successive generation times.
