H]thymidine incorporation to estimate growth rates of anaerobic bacterial strains

The incorporation of H]thymidine by axenic cultures of anaerobic bacteria was investigated as a means to measure growth. The three fermentative strains and one of the methanogenic strains tested incorporated H]thymidine, whereas the sulfate-reducing bacterium and two of the methanogenic bacteria were unable to incorporate H]thymidine during growth. It is concluded that the H]thymidine incorporation method underestimates bacterial growth in anaerobic environments.