Organization and size class homogeneity of ribosomal RNA genes of catfish Heteropneustes fossilis.

The ribosomal RNA genes of catfish Heteropneustes fossilis Bloch were examined by Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA digested with restriction enzymes and probed with labelled catfish ribosomal RNA. The major repeat length is 12 kb and about 300 copies per haploid genome are tandemly arranged. The repeat lengths are homogeneous in size in different tissues and individuals. A restriction site polymorphism exists in some of the repeats.