From Avery's experiments, what was concluded about the genetic material, and in which era?

From Avery's experiments, what was concluded about the genetic material, and in which era?

• A. RNA is the genetic material, discovered in the 1930s
• B. Protein is the genetic material, discovered in the 1940s
• C. DNA is the genetic material, discovered in the 1940s
• D. DNA is not involved in heredity, discovered in the 1950s

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is that DNA carries genetic information. Avery and colleagues showed that when they took material from virulent bacteria and exposed non-virulent bacteria to it, the non-virulent ones became virulent, indicating the material could transfer genetic traits. Crucially, they treated the transforming material with enzymes that destroy specific macromolecules. When DNA was degraded with DNase, transformation didn’t occur, but destroying proteins or RNA did not stop transformation. This pinpointed DNA as the transforming substance, meaning DNA is the genetic material. These conclusions were published in the 1940s, marking a pivotal moment in the early development of molecular genetics and building on Griffith’s earlier transformation work.

The main idea being tested is that DNA carries genetic information. Avery and colleagues showed that when they took material from virulent bacteria and exposed non-virulent bacteria to it, the non-virulent ones became virulent, indicating the material could transfer genetic traits. Crucially, they treated the transforming material with enzymes that destroy specific macromolecules. When DNA was degraded with DNase, transformation didn’t occur, but destroying proteins or RNA did not stop transformation. This pinpointed DNA as the transforming substance, meaning DNA is the genetic material. These conclusions were published in the 1940s, marking a pivotal moment in the early development of molecular genetics and building on Griffith’s earlier transformation work.