title: Derivation of a mathematical expression useful for the construction of complete genomic libraries.
abstract: We present and derive a formula that is useful for the design and evaluation of gene cloning experiments in which a complete gene library of the entire genome of an organism is desired. The formula n = ln(1-phi f)/ln(1-f) (in which n is the number of recombinant clones required to ensure a probability, phi, of obtaining at least one of each of all possible gene sequences, and f is the fraction of the genome contained in an average-sized DNA fragment) applies to construction of libraries, in which at least one copy of all the genetic information of a genome is required. The use of this formula for quantitative evaluation of genomic libraries should give greater assurance that a given library would be complete.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zilsel
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Beatty
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D015698:Genomic Library; D011336:Probability