MUTATION RATES OF BACTERIA IN STEADY STATE POPULATIONS

Abstract

Mutation rates of strain B/lt of Escherichia coli for 2 mutations have been measured in the breeder and in the chemostat under a variety of steady state growth conditions. These rates were found to be higher in complex medium than in F medium. The effects of various nutritional conditions on these high rates have been described. In addition, mutation rates at short generation times in complex medium were shown to decrease with increasing generation time. At longer generation times these mutation rates become generation time-in-dependent.