RNA/DNA ratios in the estimation of growth stages of oceanic zooplankton populations
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Authors
Baugh, Dale Eric
Subjects
RNA/DNA
Oceanic Zooplankton
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Ribonucleic Acid
Oceanic Zooplankton
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Ribonucleic Acid
Advisors
Traganza, E.D
Rowell, C.F.
Date of Issue
1974-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Current thought holds that the rate of protein synthesis
is some function of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) concentration
in growing animals. It is possible that measurements
of the ratio of RNA to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) might
provide an index of growth stages in gross analysis of
mixed zooplankton populations. RNA concentrations are found by measuring the ultraviolet
(UV) absorption of its purine and pyrimidine base groups.
Interference from protein in the RNA measurement is accounted
for by employing differential UV absorption. DNA concentrations
are found by measuring the UV absorption of an
indole-deoxyribose adduct. This study indicates that RNA/DNA ratios are related
to growth stages of the splash zone copepod Tigriopus
californicus . These ratios have the potential to be applied
to models which relate zooplankton populations to the food
chain and therefore to the sound scattering parameters which
are of great interest to the Navy.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.