Estimation of the genome size of blue-green algae from DNA renaturation rates.

Abstract

The molecular weight of the genomes of the blue-green algaeAnacystis nidulans andAnabaena cylindrica have been estimated as 2.27×109 and 2.47×109 daltons respectively from the renaturation kinetics of DNA. Thus the genomes of these organisms are similar in size to that ofEscherichia coli K-12, (2.40×109 daltons) measured by the same technique. No evidence was obtained of repeated sequences in the DNA of the two blue-green algae.