12.

1 Identifying the Substances of Genes

1. Discuss the role of bacterial transformation had in discovering new information about genes.
2. Explain the role that bacteriophages had in helping to identify genetic material.
3. List the 3 roles of DNA in heredity.
 
I. BACTERIAL TRANSFORMATION 
A. GRIFFITH’S EXPERIMENTS (1928)
1. Looking for a cure for pneumonia → transformation was discovered by
accident

2. SOMEHOW, harmful dead bacteria was changing the harmless living bacteria →
transformation

B. TRANSFORMATION
1. Bacteria were permanently changed
a) The transformation factor had to be a gene

C. MOLECULAR CAUSE OF TRANSFORMATION (1944)

1. Avery took enzymes and eliminated biomolecules (lipids, protein, carbs, RNA & DNA)
2. Transformation occurs with elimination of all biomolecules EXCEPT DNA
a) DNA WAS THE TRANSFORMING FACTOR!

II. BACTERIAL VIRUSES 

A. BACTERIOPHAGES
1. Virus that infects bacteria
a) Uses the bacteria as a “host” to replicate DNA.
2. Protein coat & DNA Core

B. HERSHEY-CHASE EXPERIMENT (1952)

SLRoberts_NHS Science Dept

Created: Feb 2019
12.1: Identifying the Substances of Genes
(pg 338-343)
1. Knew HOW bacteriophages worked, but wanted to know the WHAT. WHAT
was doing the damage?
2. DNA = P but no S; Protein = S but no P
3. Found Radioactive P (P-32)...
a) DNA was doing the “damage”
b) Confirmed Avery (and Griffith) that DNA was the genetic material
found in all living organisms 
 
III. THE ROLE OF DNA 
A. STORING INFORMATION
1. “Blueprint” for life
2. Instructions for EVERYTHING an organism will ever need to do.

B. COPYING INFORMATION
1. Every gene must be copied before cell division
a) S-phase of interphase (Chp 10)

C. TRANSMITTING INFORMATION
1. Mendel (1850’s): genes passed info from generation to generation
2. DNA must be carefully sorted and passed along during cell division
a) Mitosis & S-Phase (Chap 10)
b) Independent Assortment & Segregation (Chap 11)