Recombination in bacteriophage T4: a mechanism.

Genetic recombination between rIl mutants of T4 bacteriophage grown in Escherichia coli can occur under conditions where DNA synthesis is strongly inhibited by 5-fluorodeoxyuridine. The small amount of DNA synthesized under these conditions cannot account for the observed frequency of recombinants. The major mechanism of recombination in this system is a process of breakage and rejoining.