Abstract
The entire absorbance versus time curve of a sample of germinating bacterial spores can be reproduced by a model which is qualitatively consistent with the currently accepted description of this process. Its quantitative predictions are also in very good agreement with the rather precise data now available. The model makes a clear distinction between the intrinsic aspects of the germination process on the one hand, and the observable changes consequent to germination on the other. The intrinsic processes consist of two successive random transitions between three spore states. Each observable change has a characteristic time lag and a characteristic rate of evolution controlled by a fuction a(t).