ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the structure of bacteria in drinking water by molecular biological techniques.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA of bacteria in drinking water was directly extracted without culture. 16S ribosomal DNA fragments, including V-6, -7, and -8 regions, were amplified with universal primers (EUBf933GC and EUBr1387) and analyzed by DGGE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DGGE indicated that amplification products could be separated. The results showed that DGGE could be used in the separation of different microbial 16SrRNA genes extracted from drinking water. Though there were special bacteria in different water samples, the predominant bacteria were essentially the same. Three sequences of the reclaimed specific bands were obtained, and phylogenetic tree of these bands was made.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bacterial diversity in drinking water is identified by molecular biological techniques.</p>