what will happen if bacteria from freshwater is moved to seawater

Question

would the bacteria gain water or shrivel

Answer 1

Hi Miriam,

 

Homeostasis of bacterial cell would be severely perturbed with higher salt concentration in seawater. Therefore, majority of them would die. 

 

Bacterial cells grow very quickly,  most strains have life-cycle of about 20-25 minutes.

 

If a single bacterium mutates with a beneficial and adaptive alteration towards survival in seawater then it could slowly grow under controlled conditions of using seawater in the lab. Such probability is rare yet not impossible. 

 

Hope this helps.