Over the course of 25 years, e-coli in a flask in a lab at Michigan State have aquired the ability to consume citrate in the presence of oxygen. This is a brand new trait in this population of e-coli and hasnt been observed anywhere else. The trait comes after thousands of generations of the e-coli have been produced in this population. Scientist believe that the sudden emergence of the trait will help them better understand evolution. They say that for bacteria to be able to consume citrate is "as big of an innovation as developing eyes or wings would be for multicellular creatures" (Rainey, Paul.) Nothing like strong evidence for Darwin's theroy of evolution, and amazing that it would be noticable in that relatively short amount of time.
Article: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/345247/description/E_coli_caught_in_the_act_of_evolving
NOS themes:
Scientists collaberating
Supported by evidence
Nick Saal
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