The absence of ribonucleic acid in bacteriophage T2r

The ribonucleic acid (RNA) content of T2r+ bacteriophage was deter mined by ion exchange chromatography of mononucleotides released after alkaline hydrolysis of a mixture containing P 32-labeled phage nucleic acids and excess carrier RNA. An upper limit of 0.025% of the phage phosphorus was recovered with the RNA mononucleotides, but since the elution of radioactivity was not consistent with the elution of the carrier mononucleotides, it is concluded that RNA is totally absent in T2r+ bacteriophage.