Precursor and Product in Bacteriophage λ Recombination

Abstract

Analyses of the time of recombination in bacteria infected with phage λ and in spheroplasts infected with purified phage λ DNA indicate a preponderance of recombination occurring before replication (“early recombination”) after infection with tandem dimers formed in vitro compared to linear monomer DNA and phage infections. Among the early recombinants is a large fraction of cells that produces one recombinant type exclusively. Two suggestions are discussed—that a dimer-like molecule is the precursor of the recombinant progeny molecule and that one recombinant chromosome is the frequent or exclusive product of a recombinational event.

• genetic recombination
• recombination mechanism
• phage dimers
• dimer transfection