Variable Content of a (GC) Rich Satellite DNA in Tumorous and Normal Cultures of Crepis capillaris

Analyses of DNA from tumorous and non tumorous cultures of Crepis capillaris by analytical equilibrium centrifugation in a neutral CsCl gradient revealed significant differences in regard to the content of a heavy component satellite, which was more highly represented in tumorous cultures. DNA of plant leaves showed a unimodal distribution of molecules. The choice of suitable controls served to demonstrate that the component satellite was not exclusive of tumorous tissues. The higher satellite content of tumorous cultures is probable related to their higher growth rate.