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Bacterial Variation

Bacterial Variation By JOSHUA LEDERBERG Department oj Genetics, University oj Wisconsin, Madison, Wiscon�in As far as consistent with an integrated presentation, this article will exclude literature discussed in three earlier reviews (5, 52, 61) with whose viewpoint the writer concurs. In particular, the exposi­ tion of the problem of directed adaptive variation has been fully discussed. Spontaneous mutation and natural selection are ade­ quate to account for most adaptive changes in bacterial popu­ lations. From a general biological standpoint, exceptions to this rule would be very instructive, but except for induced lysogenicity, claims of lamarckian responses in bacteria have not been sufficient­ ly fortified by experiment. The classification of bacterial variations as mutations can be made only tentatively except where genetic analysis permits. Unfortunately, this is now possible only in strain K-12 of Escheri­ chia coli which shows genetic recombination. A number of other mechanisms of heritable variations, summarized in Table I, are familiar to geneticists, and others may yet be established. Never­ theless, most of our information on bacterial variation is most conveniently organized in terms of mutation. TABLE I CATEGORIES OF GENETIC VARIATION A. Changes which may occur in single cell cultures 1. Mutation-chemical change or destruction of http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Annual Review of Microbiology Annual Reviews

Bacterial Variation

Lederberg, J
Annual Review of Microbiology , Volume 3 (1) – Oct 1, 1949
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Publisher
Annual Reviews
Copyright
Copyright 1949 Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
Subject
Review Articles
ISSN
0066-4227
eISSN
1545-3251
DOI
10.1146/annurev.mi.03.100149.000245
Publisher site
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Abstract

By JOSHUA LEDERBERG Department oj Genetics, University oj Wisconsin, Madison, Wiscon�in As far as consistent with an integrated presentation, this article will exclude literature discussed in three earlier reviews (5, 52, 61) with whose viewpoint the writer concurs. In particular, the exposi­ tion of the problem of directed adaptive variation has been fully discussed. Spontaneous mutation and natural selection are ade­ quate to account for most adaptive changes in bacterial popu­ lations. From a general biological standpoint, exceptions to this rule would be very instructive, but except for induced lysogenicity, claims of lamarckian responses in bacteria have not been sufficient­ ly fortified by experiment. The classification of bacterial variations as mutations can be made only tentatively except where genetic analysis permits. Unfortunately, this is now possible only in strain K-12 of Escheri­ chia coli which shows genetic recombination. A number of other mechanisms of heritable variations, summarized in Table I, are familiar to geneticists, and others may yet be established. Never­ theless, most of our information on bacterial variation is most conveniently organized in terms of mutation. TABLE I CATEGORIES OF GENETIC VARIATION A. Changes which may occur in single cell cultures 1. Mutation-chemical change or destruction of

Journal

Annual Review of Microbiology – Annual Reviews

Published: Oct 1, 1949

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