The stability of various adaptations of Bact. lactis aerogenes (Aerobacter aerogenes)

Abstract

In view of the theoretical importance which has often been attached to what have been called ‘stable heritable changes’, a systematic investigation has been made of the stability of the resistance of Bact. lactis aerogenes to the drugs propamidine, proflavine and chloramphenicol, and of its enzymatic adaptation to acetate. All these functions prove to be in principle almost completely lost by reversion in absence of the inducing agent, but often extremely slowly, and according to a highly complex pattern of behaviour which is examined and discussed.