NEETZoologyMolecular Basis of Inheritance
What was the purpose of the experiment performed by Avery, MacLeod and McCarty?
Options
- ATo determine the presence of DNA in bacteria
- BTo determine the presence of RNA in bacteria
- CTo determine the biochemical nature of ‘transforming principle’ in Griffith's experiment
- DTo determine the presence of carbohydrates in bacteria
Correct answer
C. To determine the biochemical nature of ‘transforming principle’ in Griffith's experiment
Step-by-step solution
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 R cells into S cells. They discovered that DNA alone from S bacteria caused R bacteria to become transformed. They also discovered that protein-digesting enzymes (prot