A Genetic Analysis of Bacteriophage Lambda

Author: Kaiser, Armin Dale

Year: 1955

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Weigle, Jean J.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Biology; Chemistry

DOI: 10.7907/RR9B-8753

Abstract

The genetic structure of the temperate bacteriophage lambda was analysed by means of crosses. Mutations in lambda which affected the size or type of plaque initiated by single particles were induced by ultraviolet irradiation. Each of four mutants so obtained was found to differ by one factor from the reference type. Two factor crosses demonstrated the existence of linkage between the 4 mutant factors and suggested a linear sequence which was later confirmed by three factor crosses. In addition 5 other factors were found to be linked to the first 4, thus all 9 factors studied seem to lie on the same linkage group.

A striking feature of three factor crosses was the high frequency of double crossover types. This "apparent negative interference" was traced to the yields of individual bacteria by means of single burst experiments.

Finally, the compatibility of the results of the lambda crosses with two different theories of phage recombination was examined.

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