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Chlamydia is an important pathogen which possesses a unique developmental cycle. We used real-time PCR technology to measure gene transcript levels in Chlamydia trachomatis strain L2. By measuring 16S rRNA transcript levels, and developing a mathematical model of the chlamydial developmental cycle fitting the data, we predict an average generation time of approximately 2.6 h. Additionally, potentially this modelling also provides the foundation for the application of emerging micro-array technology in which identification of the gene signals that trigger a chlamydial body to start replicating or transform to its infectious form can be made possible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]