Molecular Genetics 1

Question 1

For a molecule to serve as the genetic material it must be able to

Answer 1

1. Replicate
2. Store information
3. Express information
4. Allow variation by mutation

Question 2

What were the 2 possibilities that scientists could be the genetic material?

Answer 2

Proteins or DNA

Question 3

Why did geneticists favor proteins?

Answer 3

1. more diverse and abundant cells
2. subject of the most active areas of genetic research with more known about proteins than nucleic acid chemistry
3. More complex than DNA and there are 20 types of AA and only 4-5 nucleotide types

Question 4

Explain Griffiths experiment

Answer 4

S strain caused organisms to die but R strain didnt. Therefore they combined both and the heat killed s strain transformed the r strain to become lethal

Question 5

what did Griffiths experiment represent?

Answer 5

bacterial transformation

Question 6

which strains in Griffiths experiment allowed the mice lived?

Answer 6

The R strain and the heat killed S strain

Question 7

Which strains in griffins experiment caused mice to die?

Answer 7

Tne S strain and the Strain + heat killed S strain

Question 8

virulent

Answer 8

lethal

Question 9

What was Avery, Macleod, and Mccartys experiment?

Answer 9

They tried to see which part of the cell that caused the bacterial transformation

Question 10

How did Avery, Macleod, and McCarty conduct the experimen?.

Answer 10

They took the heat killed S strain and destroyed one component of the cell in each to see which sample would transform it

Question 11

How did Avery, Macleod, and McCarty know that DNA was the genetic material?

Answer 11

Because transformation occured in all of the tests except when DNA was destroyed

Question 12

What was used in the Hershey chase experiment to prove that DNA was the genetic material?

Answer 12

Bacteriophage

with DNA surrounded by protein coat

Question 13

Describe the first part of the Hershey chase experiment

Answer 13

They radiocactively labeled the protein coat with s35 and let it attach to the cell. There was no radioactive substance (proteins) in the cell

Question 14

Describe the second part of the Hershey Chase experiment

Answer 14

They radioactively labeled the DNA with P32 and when the phage attached there was only radioactive DNA in the cell

Question 15

What are some indirect pieces of evidence that DA is the genetic material?

Answer 15

Distribution of DNA-2x as much in somatic vs. Gametes

Mutagenesis-Can mutate DNA, absorb UV light which damages and causes mutations

Question 16

What are some pieces of evidence that prove that DNA is the genetic material?

Answer 16

Recombinant DNA studies-you can put DNA from one organism to another