The nucleic acids in a polyploid series of Saccharomyces

1. 1. A polyploid series from haploid through tetraploid in yeasts has been analyzed for a number of cellular characters including dry weight, desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and metaphosphate content. 2. 2. The DNA content per cell is found consistent with an integral ratio in the polyploid series, and this character has proved most reliable of those studied in estimating ploidy. 3. 3. Dry weight, RNA, and metaphosphate content per cell are also ploidy-dependent but vary over a wider experimental range. 4. 4. The reliable estimation of ploidy in yeast provides a critical tool for the analysis of irregular segregation in the yeasts.