#and hadn't noticed that literally all of their agar was contaminated with antibiotics

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

My money is on fungus. E. coli doesn't survive heat very well but many fungal spores do.

I've had an ongoing science project for a few years now that I'd like to share. I've been leaving raw chicken breasts—real cheap, unregulated shit from the local mom-and-pop grocery store—out on my counter long enough for E. coli bacteria to develop. Then I microwave the chicken breasts and try to produce genetic mutations in the bacteria of each batch through microwave radiation, just in short bursts of 45 seconds per "rep" and maybe 3 "reps" per "set". The bacteria that do survive get fresh, raw chicken mixed into their feed and left to rest at room temperature for a few more days to grow. Then I just rinse and repeat until I see weird shit under the microscope. Sometimes I don't even need a microscope! Pic related, the fuzzy red mound is the modified E. coli (more obvious under a microscope). It's one of my most successful batches, a relative newcomer at only ten generations. I don't really microwave it any more because I'm pretty happy with it. This batch actually still has chicken inside, it's just completely covered in the bacteria "fur". Each bacterium is about a quarter the length and width of an eyelash. They aren't as quick at eating the chicken breasts as some of my other batches. I'm not sure how it happens, but between the actual chicken and the bacteria layer is some nasty chicken glob, like they slowly dissolve it or something. But this batch is definitely my "ambassador species" since it's pretty flashy with its beautiful maroon color and marimo-like appeal, and it doesn't make me sick too much. Anyone else doing something similar?

[kactusnz]

#I have accidentally created Weirdly Long bacteria before#but it was because I was in a microbe research lab in Europe who just did not work with soil samples like we were using#and hadn't noticed that literally all of their agar was contaminated with antibiotics#which their antibiotic-resistant medical strains were apparently fine with and our soil samples did Not Like#so the samples weren't dividing properly because they were being poisoned

extra derin lore! I often incorrectly assume that people have always lived where they are currently living unless they have an accent. so now I want to hear about Derin's Adventures In Europe

I've had an ongoing science project for a few years now that I'd like to share. I've been leaving raw chicken breasts—real cheap, unregulated shit from the local mom-and-pop grocery store—out on my counter long enough for E. coli bacteria to develop. Then I microwave the chicken breasts and try to produce genetic mutations in the bacteria of each batch through microwave radiation, just in short bursts of 45 seconds per "rep" and maybe 3 "reps" per "set". The bacteria that do survive get fresh, raw chicken mixed into their feed and left to rest at room temperature for a few more days to grow. Then I just rinse and repeat until I see weird shit under the microscope. Sometimes I don't even need a microscope! Pic related, the fuzzy red mound is the modified E. coli (more obvious under a microscope). It's one of my most successful batches, a relative newcomer at only ten generations. I don't really microwave it any more because I'm pretty happy with it. This batch actually still has chicken inside, it's just completely covered in the bacteria "fur". Each bacterium is about a quarter the length and width of an eyelash. They aren't as quick at eating the chicken breasts as some of my other batches. I'm not sure how it happens, but between the actual chicken and the bacteria layer is some nasty chicken glob, like they slowly dissolve it or something. But this batch is definitely my "ambassador species" since it's pretty flashy with its beautiful maroon color and marimo-like appeal, and it doesn't make me sick too much. Anyone else doing something similar?