Interrupted mating experiment maps genes based on
Wollman and Jacob designed interrupted mating to order genes by time they enter recipient after mixing Hfr donor and F- recipient. At intervals, conjugation pairs are disrupted by vigorous blending in Waring blender, stopping DNA transfer. Recipients plated for early, middle, and late markers reveal sequential appearance. Gene entering first lies closest to oriT, next gene transfers seconds to minutes later depending on distance along chromosome. Plotting time of entry versus marker yields circular genetic map. This temporal mapping revolutionized E. coli linkage analysis before DNA sequencing.
Ref: Griffiths et al., Introduction to Genetic Analysis, 12th ed., Chapter 6: Interrupted Mating Experiment; Hartl, Chapter 6