E. coli bacteria live naturally in the human gut. For almost
25 years, researchers at Michigan State University in East Lansing have
been growing the germs in 12 glass flasks. The microbes have been
growing, and reproducing — and growing some more. Meanwhile, biologists
have been watching, watching, watching.
Richard Lenski and his
coworkers recently reported a new finding from the long-term project. In
one flask, the bacteria the scientists were nurturing did something
momentous: They gradually evolved, or changed. In this case, the tiny
organisms developed the ability to eat a new food — citrate — but only
when oxygen is around.
That may not seem like such a big deal, and it’s not — for humans.
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