NEETZoologyMolecular Basis of Inheritance
What was the result of the digestion of transforming substances with proteases and RNases?
Options
- ATransformation was inhibited
- BTransformation was not affected
- CTransformation was increased
- DTransformation was only partially affected
Correct answer
B. Transformation was not affected
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