Variation and adaptive potential in bacterial gene pools exposed to different mechanisms of mutation

Mutations are caused by a variety of molecular mechanisms. Whereas all of these produce random variation in fitness, their effects on the genetic architecture of traits are quite distinct. Therefore, in this project, we will test whether and how mechanisms of mutation bias microevolutionary processes and influence the future adaptive potential of populations. To answer this question, we will upregulate specific mechanisms of mutation in bacteria and study their adaptation in a chemostat evolution experiment.