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DNA

The Genetic Material

IDENTIFICATION OF DNA AS THE GENETIC MATERIAL

The genetic material must meet 4 criteria


1. Information: 2. Transmission: 3. Replication: 4. Variation:

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1928 - Frederick Griffiths Transformation Experiments

Two strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae S Smooth


Secrete a polysaccharide capsule Produce smooth colonies on solid media virulent Unable to secrete a capsule Produce colonies with a rough appearance avirulent

R Rough

Two coat types


II III
IIS or IIIS or IIR or IIIR

Four possible phenotypes

Griffiths Experiments
Figure 9.1

Rare mutations convert strains

S into R strain & vice versa II into III or vice versa

But mutations do not change coat types

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Figure 9.2

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Griffiths Conclusions

Something from the dead type IIIS transformed type IIR into type IIIS Called this process transformation The unknown substance was termed the transforming principle

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1944 - Avery, MacLeod & McCarty Identify the Genetic Material

Griffiths transforming principle was the genetic material Transformation assay to identify actual biomolecule Major constituents - DNA, RNA, proteins, carbohydrates, & lipids Made cell extracts from type IIIS cells containing each of these macromolecules
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Averys Experiments

Mixed each extract with type IIR cells to test for transformation Only extract containing purified DNA transformed type IIR to type IIIS Verify that DNA, not RNA or protein, is the genetic material

Figure 9.3

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1952- Hershey & Chase Confirm DNA is Genetic Material Using Phage T2

Life cycle of phage T2


Figure 9.5

Phage Attached to E. coli Cell

The Hershey and Chase experiment:

Used radioisotopes to distinguish DNA from proteins 32P labels DNA specifically 35S labels protein specifically

Infect non-radioactive E. coli with radioactivelylabeled phages Remove phage coats from cells Is 32P or 35S inside bacteria?
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Hershey & Chase Experiment

Hershey & Chase Experiment

The Data

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RNA is Genetic Material in Some Viruses

In 1956, A. Gierer and G. Schramm isolated RNA from the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) Purified TMV RNA caused the same lesions as intact TMV viruses

Therefore, the viral genome is composed of RNA

Since that time, many RNA viruses have been found

Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display

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Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display

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