Based on the changes observed for AD/AG, La, the G band position and the FWHM values with respect to incubation time, the exfoliation process can be divided into three stages (attachment, division and separation of yeast cells) to elucidate the step wise thinning of graphite. The attachment phase (I), Fig. (g), starts immediately after incubation and as observed from the plots, there are no significant changes in the lattice parameters during this stage. The attachment stage often overlaps with the cell division, where the attached cells begin to divide causing the shearing and tearing of the substrate (graphite), significant changes in the lattice parameters were observed at the second stage of exfoliation. Further, the stage III is characterized by the separation stage, which is marked with the cell division phase and is completed within 1 weeks of incubation, Fig. .