Diagrammatic representation of the distribution of DNA bases and its applications.
The frequencies of occurrence of the bases A, C, G and T (or U) in a DNA or mRNA sequence are denoted by a, c, g, t (or u), respectively. Since a + c + g + t = 1, the four real numbers are mapped into a point within a regular tetrahedron. The mapping points are then projected to some planes for further study. We have given several examples of application of this technique. As a by-product of an application we have found an empirical formula on the limit distribution of DNA bases for different kind of organisms, i.e. 1/4 less than or equal to a2 + c2 + g2 + t2 less than 1/3.
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Department of Physics, Tianjin University, China.
Zhang
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D000225:Adenine / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001482:Base Composition; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003062:Codon; D003596:Cytosine / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006147:Guanine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008433:Mathematics; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry; D013941:Thymine / Q000032:analysis; D014498:Uracil / Q000032:analysis
D003062:Codon; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014498:Uracil; D006147:Guanine; D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA; D000225:Adenine; D013941:Thymine