MadSci Network: Molecular Biology
Query:

Re: How can the size of a viral genome be found?

Date: Sat Jan 30 08:20:10 1999
Posted By: Dr Jim Mullaney, Secondary School Teacher, Chemistry / Biology, Mandurah Catholic College
Area of science: Molecular Biology
ID: 917446422.Mb
Message:

Erica,

That's a good question - and the answer is - it depends!!!!! Certainly small viruses could be measured using agarose gel electrophoresis. I worked on the team who discovered the DNA sequence of herpes simplex virus type 1, which is a large double-stranded DNA virus with a genome of about 150,000 bp. This was determined using electrophoresis but with a polyacrylamide gel rather than agarose which has a very small exclusion limit.

As for treating the virus with restriction enzymes. It is certainly possible, but often fragments are very similar in size and difficult to separate.

Hope this helps - and thanks for using the Mad Scientists :o)

DrJim


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