Effect of dr1769 deletion on normal growth and recovery from desiccation. D. radiodurans R1 (▼, ▲) and Δdr1769 mutant (■,⧫) cells were grown in rich medium under normal conditions (▼, ■) and stressed at 5% humidity for 20 h and then allowed to recover (▲, ⧫). Optical density at 600 nm was measured continuously on a microtiter-based density reader. Growth medium (●, GM) was taken as the blank control.