Spontaneous mutations accumulating in bacteriophage T4 in the complete absence of DNA replication.

Abstract

Bacteriophage T4 accumulates mutations when maintained in broth over extended periods at 0[degree] and at 20[degree] in the complete absence of DNA replication. Reversion is observed only at mutant sites containing GC base pairs, not at sites containing AT base pairs or sign mutations (additions and/or deletions of small numbers of base pairs). Revertants and forward mutations accumulate linearly with time, about 20 times faster at 20[degree] than at 0[degree].