title: On the analysis of unrestricted mixed cultures in determining the fitness of microbial mutants.
abstract: Equations describing the growth of two microbial strains in unrestricted mixed culture are developed and their use described. With this treatment, mixed cultures maintained in growth by periodic dilution or by use of a turbidostat may be used to obtain a quantitative measure of the adaptive or maladaptive effects of specific mutant alleles.
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation