Effect of Temperature on Natural Mutation in Escherichia coli

Abstract

SUMMARY: The mutation rate from histidine auxotrophy to prototrophy in Escherichia coli was measured during growth and in the stationary phase at different temperatures. Dining growth the rate of mutation/mutable unit/hr. had the same temperature coefficient as the rate of growth. Therefore the rate of mutation/ mutable unit/generation was the same at all temperatures. The temperature coefficient of the rate of mutation/unit/hr. during the stationary phase may be the same as that during growth, indicating that although mutation is slower in this phase it may involve the same process as during growth.