Role of simple and complex aggregates inEscherichia coliHfr × F−matings

Abstract

SUMMARYAnalysis of tetraparental Hfr × F−matings ofEscherichia colistrains showed that mating complexes were predominantly pairs or small aggregates of cells. Many physically associated complexes of donor and recipient cells gave rise to no recombinant cells. The observed linkage of genetic markers in recombinants is sensitive to multiple mating events, and should therefore be measured under well-defined conditions giving pairwise matings only.