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Bacillus atrophaeus

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B. atrophaeus has historically been known by several other names, including B. globigii (the origin of its military moniker "BG") and B. subtilis var. niger. Modern phylogenetic analyses using multiple genetic methods have placed B. atrophaeus close to B. subtilis.

Its original and still most prominent use is as a surrogate organism for pathogenic B. anthracis, beginning in the U.S. bio-weapons program, as its pigmentation readily facilitated discrimination from non-pigmented background organisms in environmental samples. Subsequent genomic and phenotypic analysis of strains derived from the Camp Detrick isolates revealed that they had been deliberately selected to exhibit elevated rates of sporulation.

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Molecular phylogeneticsBranch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differencesMicrometreUnit of length; one millionth of a metrePerennialPlant that lives for more than two yearsDeciduousPlants that shed leaves seasonallyGram-negative bacteriaGroup of bacteria that do not retain the Gram stain used in bacterial differentiationLegumePlants in the family Fabaceae