The Single-copy DNA Sequence Polymorphism of the Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus Purpuratus

The single-copy DNA sequence difference between individual sea urchins of the species Strongylocentrotus purpuratus has been estimated by comparing the thermal stability of reassociated DNA duplexes from two individuals with that for DNA from an individual. Thermal stability was measured by hydroxyapatite thermal chromatography, S1 nuclease resistance after heating in a solvent which neutralizes the effect of DNA base composition, and spectrophotometric melting. One pair of individuals appear to differ from each other in about 4% of the nucleotide pairs of their single-copy DNA sequence. The differences in DNA sequence among individuals in local populations are not distinguishably smaller than those among populations as far apart as 2000 kilometers along the Pacific coast of North America.