Final answer:
One species can have more than one number in a rapid identification system due to different strains exhibiting varied biochemical reactions, leading to distinct numeric codes for each biochemical profile.
Step-by-step explanation:
One species, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), can have multiple numbers in a rapid identification system like the Enterotube II because different strains or conditions of E. coli can produce varying biochemical reactions. This leads to distinct numeric codes based on the combination of positive or negative results for each test in the system. For instance, E.coli can have numbers such as 34540 & 34560 in Enterotube II, representing different biochemical profiles. The multiplicity of codes is akin to how a single species can exhibit diverse traits or behaviors under different circumstances or due to genetic variations like those seen between enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), which have different pathogenic characteristics and would thus yield different number codes upon testing.
Escherichia coli is a versatile bacterium with many subtypes, some harmless and others pathogenic, leading to multiple identification numbers reflecting these differences. The numbers corresponding to E. coli in various documents or indexes serve as references to detailed information about the bacterium, including its characteristics, effects, and detection methods across different scientific studies and applications.