Mutator Genes and Other Leads from Bacterial Genetics

Abstract

Ageing is not an aspect of bacterial existence, but the whole place in nature of bacteria depends on their capacity for mutation in many directions. Almost any change in the constitution of a nutrient medium in which a pure culture of bacteria is growing will very soon result in the appearance of a mutant population better suited to the new conditions. Even under optimal conditions of culture, mutation is constantly occurring, and for certain types of mutant there are highly convenient methods of measuring mutation rates.