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Escherichia coli

Genome Sequenced Early



Sequencing of the E. coli K-12 strain genome (a popular model strain) was completed in 1997; subsequently, at least two collections of the pathogenic 0157:H7 strain have been completely sequenced. The bacterium has a genome of approximately 4.3 million base pairs of DNA, and carries about 4,400 genes. Interestingly, only about 50 percent of the predicted genes have been described and characterized, a surprisingly low percentage for such a well-understood organism. For this and other reasons, E. coli remains one of the most significant model organisms used today.



Daniel J. Tomso

Bibliography

Madigan, Michael T., John M. Martinko, and Jack Parker. Brock Biology of Micro-organisms, 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000.

Additional topics

Medicine EncyclopediaGenetics in Medicine - Part 2Escherichia coli - Attributes Of E. Coli, Importance In Laboratory Studies, Discoveries Made In E. Coli