Open AccessA Simple Quantitative Assay for Bacterial Motility
Author(s) -
Lee A. Segel,
I. Chet,
Y. Henis
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of general microbiology/journal of general microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2059-9323
pISSN - 0022-1287
DOI - 10.1099/00221287-98-2-329
Subject(s) - motility , simple (philosophy) , simplicity , biological system , thermal diffusivity , computer science , biology , physics , microbiology and biotechnology , thermodynamics , philosophy , epistemology , quantum mechanics
It is argued that the average motility of bacterial populations should be identified with a diffusivity parameter. A simple capillary assay for quantifying this parameter is described, and some results obtained by using this procedure are presented. It is concluded that the assay combine speed and simplicity of operation with sufficient accuracy to make it a valuable tool in the assessment of motility.