NEETZoologyMolecular Basis of Inheritance
What are the four criteria that a molecule must fulfill to act as a genetic material?
Options
- AReplication, stability, expression in the form of 'Mendelian Characters', and mutation
- BReplication, chemical and structural stability, expression in the form of 'Mendelian Characters', and stabilit
- CAbility to generate its replica, stability with different stages of life cycle, slow changes (mutation), and e
- DAbility to generate its replica, chemical and structural stability, slow changes (mutation), and expression in
Correct answer
D. Ability to generate its replica, chemical and structural stability, slow changes (mutation), and expression in
Step-by-step solution
A molecule that can act as a genetic material must fulfill the following criteria: (i) It should be able to generate its replica (Replication). (ii) It should be stable chemically and structurally. (iii) It should provide the scope for slow changes (mutation) that are required for evolution. (iv) It should be able to express itself in the form of 'Mendelian Characters’. If one examines each requirement one by one, because of the rule of base pairing and complementarity, both the nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) have the