Bacteriophages as genetic and biochemical systems

Hershey, Alfred Day (1957) Bacteriophages as genetic and biochemical systems. Advances in Virus Research, 4. pp. 25-61.

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13402570
DOI: 10.1016/S0065-3527(08)60595-3

Abstract

Work with bacteriophages is no longer of interest exclusively or primarily to virologists. It has become a branch of genetics and biochemical. The history of lysogeny parallels the history of research with virulent phages. Both are rapidly becoming branches of genetics. To anticipate what is not yet proved, work with the lytic cycle of viral growth is becoming a branch of chemical genetics: it emphasizes the molecular level of genetic determination. Lysogeny deals more exclusively at the cellular level of genetic determination, both through necessity and competence. It is found that genetic recombination between phages presents critical information about genetic system of phages. It is found that viral inheritance is based on a linear linkage system comparable to that of other organisms. It is also likely that phages contain a single linkage structure, joining the three linkage groups first recognized in T2 bacteriophage. A selective method is described in the chapter which is applicable to problems of both genetic recombination and mutation. It is based on the fact that E. coli K12 carrying lambda prophage is resistant to one class of mutants of T4, but sensitive t o other mutants or to the wild-type phage. To study the chemistry of viral growth vegetative replication and maturation cycle is considered as independent processes. The vegetative cycle of phage growth is chiefly characterized by the synthesis of phage precursor DNA. By the same hypothesis, synthesis of phage precursor protein is assigned to the maturation cycle.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > bacteriophage
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > bacteriophage
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > bacteriophage
CSHL Authors:
Communities: The Carnegie Institution Department of Genetics
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 1957
Date Deposited: 19 Apr 2017 17:00
Last Modified: 19 Apr 2017 17:00
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/34514

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