Designing a Winogradsky Column
Introduction A Winogradsky column is a micro-community designed to grow a smaller replica of a larger ecosystem. Sergi Winogradsky along with Martinus Willem Bejerink designed it when microbiology was a newly emerging science. At that time, there were few microbiological methods and most microbiologists were engaged in researching the “germ theory” of disease. Winogradsky broke away from this practice and investigated environmental by cultivating and studying microbial communities. His work furthered our understanding of microbial diversity, physiology autotrophy and environmental nutrient cycling. In particular, his efforts led to a greater understanding of sulfur and nitrogen cycling. Of particular interest in experiments that target a ...
