Final answer:
When bacteria are transferred to a medium with only saturated fatty acids, they will stop growing because their cell membranes become too rigid without the necessary unsaturated fatty acids, disrupting essential cellular processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you transfer bacteria from part A to a medium containing only saturated fatty acids, the bacteria will cease to grow soon after the change due to a lack of unsaturated fatty acids in their membranes. Bacteria require a certain amount of unsaturated fatty acids in their cell membranes to maintain fluidity and functionality at various temperatures. Saturated fatty acids make the membrane more rigid, which could lead to growth inhibition especially if the bacteria were previously adapted to an environment with more unsaturated fatty acids which allow for a more fluid membrane at lower temperatures. The membrane fluidity is crucial for many cellular processes, including nutrient transport, enzyme function, and overall cell integrity.
During the growth of bacteria in culture, it is vital to provide them with optimal conditions, including appropriate nutrients. An imbalance in membrane lipid composition can disrupt essential processes, leading to halted cell growth or death. In the context of E. coli, adjusting their growth medium to include only saturated fatty acids would disrupt their ability to adapt to environmental temperatures, as E. coli adjusts its plasma membrane fatty acid composition (including the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids) based on the ambient temperature to maintain appropriate membrane fluidity.