NEETZoologyMolecular Basis of Inheritance
What was the conclusion of Griffith's experiments regarding the transfer of the genetic material?
Options
- AThe transfer of the genetic material was due to the transfer of a transforming principle.
- BThe transfer of the genetic material was not proven in the experiments.
- CThe biochemical nature of the genetic material was defined in the experiments.
- DThe transfer of the genetic material was due to the transfer of antibiotic resistance.
Correct answer
A. The transfer of the genetic material was due to the transfer of a transforming principle.
Step-by-step solution
This is because the S strain bacteria have a mucous (polysaccharide) coat, while R strain does not. Mice infected with the S strain (virulent) die from pneumonia infection but mice infected with the R strain do not develop pneumonia. Griffith was able to kill bacteria by heating them. He observed that heat-killed S strain bacteria injected into mice did not kill them. When he injected a mixture of heat-killed S and live R bacteria, the mice died. Moreover, he recovered living S bacteria from the dead mice. He concl