[furball4paws]

"We now know that many mutations in bacteria are caused because the bacteria decided it needed the mutation. It even has special DNA polymerases to cause specific kinds of mutations, whose use is regulated. "

As a microbiologist, I'd like to know more about this. Please enlighten me, preferably using references.

[johnnyb_61820]

DNA PolyIV is used to generate mutations in E. Coli in stress conditions:

Error-prone DNA polymerase IV is controlled by the stress-response sigma factor, RpoS, in Escherichia coli

For certain mutations, such as ebgR, it is regulated by PhoPQ:

Adaptive Mutagenesis at ebgR Is Regulated by PhoPQ