title: Comment on "A bacterium that can grow by using arsenic instead of phosphorus".
abstract: Wolfe-Simon et al. (Research Articles, 3 June 2011, p. 1163; published online 2 December 2010) reported that the bacterial strain GFAJ-1 can grow by using arsenic (As) instead of phosphorus (P), noting that the P content in bacteria grown in +As/-P culture medium was far below the quantity needed to support growth. However, low P content is a common phenotype across a broad range of environmental bacteria that experience P limitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. cotne002@umn.edu
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cotner
authors.forename: Edward K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D044129:Halomonadaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D001151:Arsenic