Electron microscopy of RNA from reovirus and wound tumor virus

The RNA extracted from reovirus and wound tumor virus by phenol has been visualized in the electron microscope. The general appearance and the stiffness of the filaments estimated from length measurements are similar to those of DNA and are consistent with previous observations indicating that the RNA's from both viruses are double-stranded. The lengths of the extracted RNA from both reovirus and wound tumor virus fall far short of the 5 μ predicted from chemical analysis. The contour lengths of reovirus RNA exhibit a distinct 3- or 4-modal distribution pattern; those of wound tumor virus show a more random pattern.