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Genome size in mammals

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Abstract

Nuclear DNA amounts of fifteen species of placental mammals were determined by Feulgen cytophotometry. Relative values for several widely used species have been ascertained with an error of only a few percent. Absolute values (picograms or numbers of nucleotide pairs) can be determined with an error of about ten percent. The largest known mammalian genome contains about twice the DNA of the smallest one. The modal diploid DNA amount for mammals is slightly above eight picograms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

    Konrad Bachmann

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  1. Konrad Bachmann
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Bachmann, K. Genome size in mammals. Chromosoma 37, 85–93 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329560

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329560

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