Nucleic Acid Methods

Abstract

Direct consideration of the huge amount of phylogenetic information comprising the base sequences of cellular nucleic acids is relatively recent and expanding at such a prodigious rate that it is now within the abilities of many laboratories to obtain informative sequence data from a wide range of materials. However, the first direct taxonomic uses of DNA information were far cruder than those presently available, and included such techniques as assessment of the total nuclear DNA content by means ofFeulgen stainingfollowed by microdensitometry, and determinations of bulk nucleotide composition following acid digestion of extracted DNA. Indeed the latter is still important in the taxonomy and systematics of bacteria.

ArticleNote

… the potential molecular data set is incredibly extensive and, when fully utilized, should provide a detailed record of the history of life.

Hillis (1987)