Evolution of Improved Amino Acid Growing Abilities in Escherichia coli

Different populations of evolved E.coli and their ancestors were grown in a variety of single amino acid environments to determine their ability to use that amino acid as a carbon source. Some evolved lines were able to grow in amino acids that their ancestors weren't able to. The source of this change in amino acid growth was investigated by testing uptake, searching for candidate mutations, and comparing growth rates of populations with and without certain mutations.