Single-stranded templates of bacteriophage M13 DNA containing 20-30 residues of uracil in place of thymine are generated during growth of the bacteriophage in an F' strain of E. coli carrying mutations in the ung and dut genes. This DNA is used as a template in the Kunkel method of oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis (Oligonucleotide-directed Mutagenesis of Single-stranded DNA).