M. tuberculosis is an obligate aerobe meaning it requires oxygen to survive. This is why it is found in the upper part of the lungs in people. Sunlight kills the bacteria, so the lungs are also perfect for keeping it safe from the sun. This bacterium is not know to produce spores which is interesting because it can be dormant for long periods of time.

It is a facultative intracellular parasite which means it can live and reproduce inside and outside a cell. It typically lives inside macrophage cells and consumes lipids. Like most bacteria, M. tuberculosis reproduces through binary fission. This involves a parent cell growing/elongating while replicating its DNA. The DNA separates to opposite sides of the elongated cell while a septum forms. Once the septum has formed, the two identical daughter cells pull away from each other. Interestingly, M. tuberculosis is missing certain proteins that are typically involved in regulating cell division. It is also slow at reproducing; the generation time is 15-20 hours.

https://socratic.org/questions/why-is-binary-fission-so-effective-for-bacteria

In the lab, there are two mediums where it can grow: Middlebrook’s medium (agar based) and Lowenstein-Jensen medium (egg based). Colonies can be seen after 4-6 weeks. Their optimum temperature for growth is 30-32°C, but they can also grow in the lab at 36-37°.