In the 1920s, bacteriologist Fred Griffith demonstrated that a heat-killed, infectious pneumococcus produced a substance that could convert a harmless form of the bacterium into a lethal one. Fifteen years later, researchers prepared an extract from the disease-causing S-strain pneumococci and showed that this material could transform the harmless R-strain cells into the infectious S-strain form. This change to the bacteria was both permanent and heritable, suggesting that this "transforming principle" represents the elusive genetic material of the cells. But what kind of molecule was it? The researchers subjected their extract to a variety of tests to determine the chemical identity of the "transforming principle." In one experiment, they treated the material with enzymes that destroy all proteins. This treatment did not affect the ability of the extract to transform harmless bacteria into an infectious form. From this result, the researchers can conclude that:

Question

Audrey Buck

Biology

13 April, 01:34

In the 1920s, bacteriologist Fred Griffith demonstrated that a heat-killed, infectious pneumococcus produced a substance that could convert a harmless form of the bacterium into a lethal one. Fifteen years later, researchers prepared an extract from the disease-causing S-strain pneumococci and showed that this material could transform the harmless R-strain cells into the infectious S-strain form. This change to the bacteria was both permanent and heritable, suggesting that this "transforming principle" represents the elusive genetic material of the cells. But what kind of molecule was it? The researchers subjected their extract to a variety of tests to determine the chemical identity of the "transforming principle." In one experiment, they treated the material with enzymes that destroy all proteins. This treatment did not affect the ability of the extract to transform harmless bacteria into an infectious form. From this result, the researchers can conclude that:

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Answers (1)

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Sara Woods · Answer 1

Some substance in the infectious S strain could change the harmless R strain into the more lethal form.

Explanation:

These first type of experiments where crucial to advance in DNA knowledge.

In one experiment, they treated the material with enzymes that destroy all proteins. This is important because scientist notice that there was something else that was causing the strain to change into a lethal form and was heritable (DNA). Know a days we know that plasmids are responsible for such transformation.