SUMMARY: A method is described for the isolation of biologically active DNA from Proteus mirabilis strain 13 which could transform auxotrophic mutants of P. mirabilis to prototrophy. This DNA preparation did not transform similar mutants of P. vulgaris. Optimal conditions for transformation were pH 8·5 to 9·5 for the lysate during DNA extraction, DNA concentration of 16 μg./ml. and growth of recipient cells for 5 h. before exposure to DNA.
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