A Method for the Measurement of Mutation Rate from Phage Sensitivity to Phage Resistance in Escherichia coli
- 1 May 1948
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Microbiology Society in Journal of General Microbiology
- Vol. 2 (2) , 131-142
- https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-2-2-131
Abstract
The rate of mutation from phage sensitivity to phage resistance was measured by a modification of Demerec''s method of spraying culture plates with phage aerosol and counting resistant survivors. Using T1 phage, values of 0.74 [plus or minus] 0.04 and 0.7 [plus or minus] 0.04 mutations per 108 bacterial divisions were obtained after 12 and 18 bacterial generations, respectively, showing that mutation to phage resistance is a constant function of cell division. Resistance to Tl phage can be brought about by at least 5 separate mutations as indicated by tests of resistance to other phages. A difference of mutation rate between the normal strain and a radiation resistant strain of the bacterium was explained as probably due to change.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- The growth of bacterial colonies and their viable populationEpidemiology and Infection, 1947