Strains of Escherichia coli diploid for the chromosomal origin of DNA replication.

F' strains of E. coli have been isolated which are merodiploid for various chromosomal segments between 66 and 78 minutes. Strains diploid for the chromosomal DNA between the genes bgl and mtl grow slowly, have a reduced DNA/mass and an increased cell size. These properties could result if the chromosomal replication origin and a second, extrachromosomal, copy of the origin (located in this case on the F') were to compete for a substance required to initiate replication. We therefore suggest that these strains are diploid for the chromosomal origin of replication and that, therefore, the origin is located between bgl and mtl, that is between 71 and 73 minutes on the E. coli chromosome.