Lederberg and Tatum’s detection of recombination between auxotrophic E. coli cells

Auxotrophic bacterial strains (Y-24) and (Y-10) each contain multiple mutations and grow on complete medium but not on minimal medium. Mixing the strains leads to the formation of prototrophic bacteria that grow on minimal mediumAuxotrophic bacterial strains (Y-24) and (Y-10) each contain multiple mutations and grow on complete medium but not on minimal medium. Mixing the strains leads to the formation of prototrophic bacteria that grow on minimal medium

Culture 0 Culture 9 e 9 .; l' . ,4 i u i .5 i .i g 'i‘ Z r g / Culture ' C‘émmn , Y-24 6 Y-I mer bi0‘ /eu+ cy5' phe‘ thr+ rhi+ met+ bio+ /eu* cys+ phe+ thr‘ thi‘ Grow in complete medium. Transfer to mini- mal medium. Y-24 and Y-10 Grow in complete medium. Transfer to mini- mal medium. No growth Colony growth No growth All cells are Prototrophic cells grow All cells are auxotrophic. (met+ biotleu+ cys+) auxotrophic. phe+ thr+ z‘hi+