Question

In a series of experiments, Avery treated heat-killed nonvirulent S bacteria with enzymes that degraded the proteins, DNA, and RNA of the S bacteria, then mixed this with nonvirulent R bacteria. S cells grew in all cases except the samples with degraded DNA. What did this demonstrate?

A. Protein, DNA, and RNA from the S bacteria are all necessary for bacterial transformation to occur.
B. DNA from the S bacteria is necessary for bacterial transformation to occur.
C. RNA from the S bacteria is necessary for bacterial transformation to occur.
D. Protein from the S bacteria is necessary for bacterial transformation to occur.

Answer 1

B

Step-by-step explanation:

When heat-killed nonvirulent S bacteria will be treated with enzymes that degraded DNA it will destroy the genetic information required for cell survival. DNA is very essential for an organism and is called the molecule of life. DNA degradation is also a part of cell death called apoptosis. That's why all the samples grew except the one where DNA was enzymatically degraded.

Answer 2

The correct answer would be option B.

Avery experiment proved that DNA is used as the genetic material in most of the living organisms.

It can be explained with the help of observation that when the S bacteria were treated with DNAase, they could not transfer their DNA to the R bacteria. Consequently, R bacteria did not transform into S bacteria.

In contrast, when these bacteria were treated with protease or RNAase, they could transfer DNA easily due to which R bacteria could easily transformed into S bacteria.