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Spreaders!

The branching growth pattern seen on this petri dish agar are those of a bacterium culture - tests, and probability, infer a Bacillus species. Organised colony growth usually occurs in response to unfavourable conditions such as low nutrient availability and hard substrates.

 

The complex growth patterns of 'stressed' bacteria are fractal in nature. Under more controlled conditions many wonderous fractal patterns can be formed from various bacteria. Google "Eshel Ben-Jacob" to see his amazing bacterial cultures in petri dishes (with artistic licence on the colours).

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Uploaded on August 31, 2011
Taken on August 7, 2011