Abstract
The RNA of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) hybridizes with DNA's isolated from all eukaryotes tested (animal and plant) with the possible exception of yeast. Bacterial DNA's show no homology to RSV-RNA. DNA's from the oncogenic viruses, adenovirus type 12 and SV40 show significant homology with RSV-RNA, but those from nononcogenic adenoviruses types 2 and 4 are not homologous.RSV-RNA hybridized to all of the DNA's examined has the same, or a closely similar, base composition. Moreover, the melting temperatures of all of the hybrids analyzed are very similar, further suggesting that a common base sequence in DNA functions in hybridization with RSV-RNA.