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Heat as an Agent producing High Frequency of Mutations and Unstable Genes in Escherichia coli

Abstract

MILD heating (up to 36° C.) is known to produce a small increase of the spontaneous mutation-rates in Drosophila and in bacteria. We have found that using special conditions it is possible to have mesophilic non-sporogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli) survive relatively high temperatures (60° C.) ; this sublethal treatment produces a high frequency of mutations and unstable genes.

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ZAMENHOF, S., GREER, S. Heat as an Agent producing High Frequency of Mutations and Unstable Genes in Escherichia coli . Nature 182, 611–613 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/182611a0

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