Longest Evolution Experiment Dead-End
The industry’s longest-running research experiment reached a milestone in October, studying the evolution of more than 68,000 generations.
Biologist Richard Lenski started the now legendary experiment in his laboratory early in 1988 with just 12 flasks seeded with genetically identical bacteria known as Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Since then, the bacteria have been growing in a carefully measured solution of glucose, a type of sugar—”food” for bacteria. Each flask contained just a sparse amount of glucose to create a stressful environment, along with a high concentration of citrate, a molecular close cousin of glucose, pushing the bacteria to evolve. Since 1988, Lenski’s laboratory team has transferred a small sample of the new 50 mL Erlenmeyer flasks every day.
