Prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes contain dispersed repetitive sequences separating longer single-copy DNA sequences. Interspersed repetitive sequences are characterized as relatively short (usually <500 bp), non-coding, dispersed elements in bacterial genomes. Current data supports that repetitive DNA comprises a substantial portion of the microbial genomes. rep-PCR primers complement these repetitive sequences and allow for specific binding providing reproducible, unique rep-PCR DNA fingerprint patterns.
Generation of Organism Specific rep-PCR DNA Fingerprint Patterns
1. Rep-PCR primers bind to many specific repetitive sequences interspersed throughout the genome.
2. Multiple Fragments of various lengths are amplified
3. Fragments can be separated by mass and charge via electrophoresis
4. A unique rep-PCR DNA fingerprint profile created with multiple bands of varying intensity