e coli

[Chris LaRosa]

ROBERT WILLIAMS wrote:
> 
> hi! recently i have been noticing that when culturing my e. coli cells there
> is a distinct order (not the normal smell of the cells). Does anyone know if
> it could posibly be contamination or are the cells overgrowing? thanks in
> advance!!!


usually odd odor indicates contamination.  Try streaking out the cells
and examining the differences in colony morphology.  You should always
have a frozen stock to make a new starter, if you are in doubt, start
from a new single colony in case the cells have mutated.