Write short note on Biochemical characterisation of Transforming Principle.
Write short note on Biochemical characterisation of Transforming Principle.
Prior to the work of Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod and Maclyn McCarty ($1933$-$44$) the genetic material was thought to be a protein.
They worked to determine the biochemical nature of 'transforming principle' in Griffith's experiment.
They purified biochemicals (proteins, $DNA$, $RNA$ etc.) from the heat-killed $S$ cells to see which ones could transform live $\mathrm{R}$ cells into $\mathrm{S}$ cells.
The discovered that $DNA$ alone from $S$ becteria caused $\mathrm{R}$ bacteria to become transformed.
They also discovered that protein digesting enzymes (proteases) and $RNA$ - digesting enzymes [$RNases$] did not affect transformation, so the transforming substance was not a protein or $RNA$.
Digestion with $DNase$ did inhibit transformation suggesting that the $DNA$ caused the transformation.
They concluded that $DNA$ is the hereditary material, but not all biologists were convinced.
Similar Questions
Describe Hershey - Chase experiment or How it was proved the DNA is genetic material ?
Describe Hershey - Chase experiment or How it was proved the DNA is genetic material ?
A molecule that can act as a genetic material must fulfill the traits given below, except
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In some viruses, $RNA$ is present instead of $DNA$ indicating that
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Transformation was discovered by
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- [NEET 2014]
During the course of evolution why $DNA$ was chosen over $RNA$ as genetic material ? Give reasons by first discussing the desired criteria in a molecule that can act as genetic material and in the light of biochemical differences between $DNA$ and $RNA$.
During the course of evolution why $DNA$ was chosen over $RNA$ as genetic material ? Give reasons by first discussing the desired criteria in a molecule that can act as genetic material and in the light of biochemical differences between $DNA$ and $RNA$.