Students can observe bacterial mutation in the classroom by culturing E. coli in petri dishes full of auger. Exposure to an antibiotic such as penicillin will kill or prevent the growth of E. coli that has not been mutated. A short burst of UV light can be used to induce mutations and increase the likeliness of E. coli surviving in auger that has been treated with penicillin. The offspring bacteria that developed an ability to live in environments that were inhospitable to the ancestral bacteria have mutated a gene that helped them evolve.
Evolutionary biologist Richard Lenski demonstrated an evolutionary shift in bacteria through mutation by studying more than 44,000 generations of E. coli. He has observed sudden ability to digest previously inedible material in one strain of his bacteria. By using frozen samples of the bacterial lineage from multiple points in history he can see if the evolutionary mutation will happen in the same way in the future.
E. coli is a potentially dangerous bacteria that could cause diarrhea, vomiting, pneumonia or other illnesses. The laboratory and all experimental supplies should be cleaned and disinfected with bleach. Students should wear protective goggles and gloves during experiments and wash hands and forearms after working with the bacteria.