266 PATENT ABSTRACTS

4981956 4983044

D N A S E Q U E N C E S E N C O D I N G B O V I N E G R O W T H F A C T O R S

Brent R Larsen, Ned Siegel, Claire E Kotts, Michael F McGrath, Sharon D Ogden, Gwen Krivi, John Minnerly assigned to Monsanto Company

Q U A N T I T A T I V E A N A L Y S I S O F B I O L O G I C A L M A T E R I A L S A N D

P H O T O G R T A P H I C F I L M A N D A P P A R A T U S T H E R E F O R

This invention relates to novel peptides having utility for promotion of growth and/or lactation in animals, to processes and DNA useful in pro- duction of such peptides, and to methods utilizing such peptides to promote growth or lac- tation in animals. In some embodiments, the in- vention is directed to peptides having bovine IGF-II biological activity, to production of such peptides, and to their use in effecting prolifera- tion of certain cells (e.g. mammary epithelial or muscle) or in enhancing lactation in cattle or other animals.

4982326

M E T H O D F O R A N A L Y Z I N G A U T O R A D I O G R A P H F O R

D E T E R M I N I N G B A S E S E Q U E N C E O F N U C L E I C A C I D

Takash Kaneko, Hadano, Japan assigned to Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd

A method of analyzing an autoradiograph of plural resolved rows which are formed by resol- ving base-specific DNA fragments or base- specific RNA fragments labeled with a radioactive element in one-dimensional direc- tion on a support medium, to determine the base sequence of nucleic acids by: (1) electrically dis- playing the autoradiograph as an image on a screen on the basis of digital signals correspon- ding to said autoradiograph; (2) displaying a read cursor on the screen; and (3) displaying a name of a base to which a band is assigned on the screen, which is determined by using the read cursor, together with the read cursor. A method of analyzing an autoradiograph which comprises recording and storing pattern information, cur- sor information and base sequence information, and a method which comprises verifying and/or correcting the determined sequence of bands are also disclosed.

Miriam Schweber assigned to The Trustees of Boston University

Accurate quantitative determination of signals produced on film by biological molecules of interest, such as DNA and RNA, identified by hybridization with radioactively-labeled probes comprising homologous sequences (DNA or RNA) is assured by means of preimaging of a density gradient reference series on the film to calibrate the linear range of the film's response. The reference may include a gradient of in- cremented density levels or it may include multi- ple steps produced by differing amounts of a standard radiant material. The film may be pre- imaged with a step-wedge density gradient by means of a film holder with arrangements to op- tically isolate a substantial portion of the film. Densitometric tracings of the signals generated by the radioactively-identified molecules can be adjusted to lie within the linear range of response of the film defined by the tracing of the step- wedge image by adjustment of the film exposure or sample concentrations. Accurate quantitation can be assured if the heights of the peaks on the densitometric tracings of bands on the film pro- duced by hybridization of probes containing sequences from test and reference chromosomes lie within the linear range of response of the film. Computation of the ratios of areas of test and reference sequences on each sample can then be compared to those of samples of known genetic constitution under similar conditions. The method described can be used to detect altera- tions (changes from normal) in DNA content of cells within individual samples by single tracings. It can thus be used to diagnose, prenatally or postnatally, any genetic conditions, (including those such as Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease), whose basis involves an abnormal quantity of DNA in cells.