Figure 6.

Progressive elongation of bacterial cells at different pressures for T = 31°C: (a) 1 atm, (b) 50 atm, (c) 100 atm, (d) 200 atm, (e) 250 atm, and (f) 300 atm. The images were taken and analyzed at the end of experiments for all the pressures. (g) Bright-field images of bacteria at P = 200 atm at 100× magnification, suggesting that bacteria still retain the normal morphology. (h) A fluorescent image of an elongated bacteria at P = 200 atm and T = 31°C, showing the DNA (blue). Our experiments suggest that the cells are able to replicate DNA faithfully in the range of pressure and temperature where elongation is observed.