Histone genes are clustered with a 15-kilobase repeat in the chicken genome

Abstract
Histone mRNA isolated from 5 day old chick embryos was used as a template for complementary [c] DNA synthesis. The resultant cDNA, after removal of sequences complementary to rRNA, was used to detect histone genes in adult chicken genomal DNA. Hybridization data indicate that the histone genes are repeated about 10-fold in the chicken genome. Restriction endonuclease analysis reveals some sequence heterogeneity in these genes. Chicken histone genes are apparently clustered with a basic repeat unit of 15 kilobases.