Evolution of Escherichia coli during growth in a constant environment.

Populations of Escherichia coli, initiated with a single clone and maintained for long periods in glucose-limited continuous culture, developed extensive polymorphisms. In one population, examined after 765 generations, two majority and two minority types were identified. Stable mixed populations were reestablished from the isolated strains. Factors involved in the development of this polymorphism included differences in the maximum specific growth rate and in the transport of glucose, and excretion of metabolites by some clones which were utilized by minority clones.