We've been having a lot of trouble lately with cultures mailed from the
Chlamydomonas Genetics Center that don't grow when transferred to fresh
medium in their new home. We're using the same media and packaging as
always, and the cultures look green and healthy when they leave here.
Although we've had a shift in the way Duke handles mail between our
building and the U.S. postal service, the local authorities claim nothing
has changed in processing of first-class mail with respect to air carriers,
x-rays (they claim not to use them), storage of mail bags, etc.
I'm trying to come up with possible explanations.
Therefore - if you've received cultures from us within the last few months
that didn't grow, could you send me another message, describing what the
cultures looked like on arrival - green? brown? white? lysed? screaming
for help?
Did you examine them under a microscope? What medium were you using? Did
you transfer to agar, or try to wash them off into liquid culture? Did
some cultures in the package grow while others didn't? And if so, was
there any difference in their appearance? Any other ideas?
Thanks for your help!
Elizabeth Harris
chlamy at acpub.duke.edu
