Number of mutations required to evolve a new lactase function in Escherichia coli

J Bacteriol. 1977 Jan;129(1):540-3. doi: 10.1128/jb.129.1.540-543.1977.

Abstract

The frequency of mutation of the ebgAo allele to ebgA+ was compared with the frequency of mutation of strA+ to strA-. The observation that both spontaneous and ethyl methane sulfonate-induced mutations to ebgA+ occurred more frequently than mutations to strA- suggests that ebgA+ mutants arise as the result of single-point mutations.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles*
  • Escherichia coli* / enzymology
  • Galactosidases / biosynthesis*
  • Genes*
  • Mutation*

Substances

  • Galactosidases