Biology
Biology
11th Edition
ISBN: 9781259188138
Author: Peter H Raven, George B Johnson Professor, Kenneth A. Mason Dr. Ph.D., Jonathan Losos Dr., Susan Singer
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Question
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Chapter 14, Problem 1U
Summary Introduction

To determine:

Results obtained from the Griffith’s experiments using live and heat killed pathogenic bacteria.

Introduction:

Transformation of DNA is the process by which DNA of the host cell or the infecting cell is changed by the incorporation n of an outside DNA that is of some other organism. This process was discovered by Frederick Griffith, when he was trying to make vaccine against influenza virus. He carried out his experiment in mouse.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Answer to Problem 1U

Correct answer:

The key finding from the Griffith’s experiment using live and heat killed pathogenic bacteria was that “genetic material can be transferred from dead to live bacteria”. Therefore option d. is correct.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for the correct statement:

There are different basis of classification of bacteria. One such basis is the virulism of bacteria. On this basis there are two kinds of bacteria. They are normal virulent bacteria and mutant non-virulent bacteria. Griffith in his experiment injected these two forms of bacteria in mouse and observed the result in them. He injected live virulent bacteria into mice and he also injected non virulent and heat-killed virulent bacteria in different mice.

Option d. is given as “genetic material can be transferred from a dead to a live bacteria”.

As, “there can be transference of DNA from a non-living to a living bacterium”, is the correct answer.

Hence option d. is correct.

Reason for the incorrect statements:

Option a. is given as “bacteria with smooth coat killed mice”.

Key finding of the Griffith’s experiment was that genetic material can be transferred from a dead to a live bacteria and not that bacteria with smooth coat killed mice, so it is a wrong answer.

Option b. is given as “bacteria with rough coat are not lethal”.

The major finding of Griffith’s experiment was that genetic material can be transferred from a dead to a live bacteria and not that bacteria with rough coat are not lethal, so it is a wrong answer.

Option c. is given as “DNA is the genetic material”.

The major finding of Griffith’s experiment was that genetic material can be transferred from a dead to a live bacteria and not that DNA is the genetic material, so it is a wrong answer.

Hence options a., b. and c. are incorrect.

Conclusion

The major finding of Griffith’s experiment is that genetic material can be transferred from a dead to a live bacteria.

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