Abstract
Hybridization reactions between the DNAs of the six members of the weakly oncogenic adenovirus group (types 3, 7, 11, 14, 16 and 21) show that they are closely related to each other, sharing 70 to 100% of their nucleotide sequences. The weakly oncogenic adenoviruses are but distantly related to strongly oncogenic types 12 and 18, showing only 11 to 22% homology. Thus, two groups of oncogenic adenoviruses exist, differing remarkably in nucleotide sequence as well as in base composition and degree of oncogenicity.
* Present address: Departments of Biology, Marymount College, Palos Verdes Estates, California 90275, and Loyola University of Los Angeles, California 90045, U.S.A.