Association for Biology Laboratory Education

Battle of the Bacteria: Characterizing the Evolutionary Advantage of Stationary Phase Growth
 

Brian Sato & Karin E. Kram

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2016, Volume 37

Abstract

Cells grown into long-term stationary phase (LTSP – greater than 10 days) are better adapted to the environment, and thus are able to outcompete un-aged cells. This is the growth advantage in stationary phase (GASP) phenomenon. This module is hypothesis driven, and allows the students to alter the culture medium in a manner of their choosing to uncover the variable’s impact on the GASP phenotype and its relationship with cell stress and frequency of genome mutation. In doing so, the students are capable of seeing evolution occur within this short module. The below report is an abbreviated and updated summary of work previously published (Kram et al., 2016). For more information, please reference this paper or contact the authors.

Keywords:  microbiology, evolution, discovery-driven experiment, long-term stationary phase (LTSP), growth advantage in stationary phase (GASP)

Boston University (2015)