Powered by Precision, Driven by Quality

Erroneous DNA G+C content data determined by HPLC and thermal melting experiments are no longer required for species descriptions

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best

In the recent paper (Kim et al., 2015), we evaluated DNA G+C content data obtained by HPLC and thermal melting experiments (Tm) with more accurate experiments directly calculated from whole genome sequences. The range of DNA G+C ratio is different by species, making it a unique characteristic for each species. For example, more variations in DNA G+C content are found among species found in nature (e.g Psudomonas) versus species that are pathogenic to humans (e.g. Salmonella). In any case, the range of DNA G+C ratio among species (as defined by Average Nucleotide Identity) is 1%. However, experimentally determined DNA G+C ratio values, reported in past publications, showed high levels of errors when compared with genome-derived values. In fact, about half of these values showed over a 1% difference. The DNA G+C ratio can only be meaningful when the errors are reasonably small. I believe that these levels of errors are not useful and should be rectified using genome sequence data. In the current NGS era, why bother publishing values that are soon to be correctly (likely within a year or two)?

The following figure shows how DNA G+C ratios vary among species, but mostly within a 1% range.

1. Kim, M., Park, S.C., Baek, I. & Chun, J. Large-scale evaluation of experimentally determined DNA G+C contents with whole genome sequences of prokaryotes. Syst Appl Microbiol 38, 79-83 (2015).

By Jon Jongsik Chun (CEO of CJ Bioscience, Inc. & Professor at Seoul National Univ.)

Updated on April 4th 2016

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best

More To Explore

Type strain and reference strain

There is significant confusion between bacterial type strains and reference strains. The type strain is defined in the context of formal bacterial taxonomy whereas reference

[EzEditor2] Tutorial

Contents What is EzEditor2? EzEditor2 is a nucleotide and amino acid sequence editor that can be used along with EzBioCloud’s Identify and comparative genomics service.

Share This Post

Share on facebook
Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on email
small_c_popup.png

Have a Question? Let's have a chat?

We're here to answer any question you might have

small_c_popup.png

Have a Question? Let's have a chat?

We're here to answer any question you might have

small_c_popup.png

Stay up to date

Keep up with our latest developments