<P> Louis Pasteur used the small opening underneath his staircase as an incubator . Incubators are also used in the poultry industry to act as a substitute for hens . This often results in higher hatch rates due to the ability to control both temperature and humidity . Various brands of incubators are commercially available to breeders . </P> <P> The simplest incubators are insulated boxes with an adjustable heater, typically going up to 60 to 65 ° C (140 to 150 ° F), though some can go slightly higher (generally to no more than 100 ° C). The most commonly used temperature both for bacteria such as the frequently used E. coli as well as for mammalian cells is approximately 37 ° C, as these organisms grow well under such conditions . For other organisms used in biological experiments, such as the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a growth temperature of 30 ° C is optimal . </P> <P> More elaborate incubators can also include the ability to lower the temperature (via refrigeration), or the ability to control humidity or CO levels . This is important in the cultivation of mammalian cells, where the relative humidity is typically> 80% to prevent evaporation and a slightly acidic pH is achieved by maintaining a CO level of 5% . </P> <P> Perhaps one of the most important pieces of equipment in the laboratory, the incubator has provided a foundation for countless medical advances and experimental work in cellular and molecular biology . From aiding in hatching chicken eggs to enabling scientists to understand and develop vaccines for deadly viruses, the laboratory incubator has seen numerous applications over the thousands of years it has been in use . </P>

Incubators used in the microbiology laboratory generally maintain a constant temperature of