Question

How did qualitative chemical and enzyme tests help avery identify dna as the transforming principle?

Answer 1

Qualitative chemical and enzyme tests help Avery to identify DNA as the transforming principle as they clarify the chemical nature of genes, that they are form of nucleic acids.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of Avery’s qualitative chemical test result was that the transforming principle could precipitate with alcohol, so this demonstrate it was not a carbohydrate.

The enzyme test demonstrated that proteases (enzymes that digest protein) and lipases (enzymes that digest lipids) did not destroy the transforming principle, so the scientist concluded that it was neither a protein nor a lipid.

The bacteriologist found out that the transforming principle was formed of nucleic acids so they tested the sample with ribonuclease (enzyme that digest RNA) but it did not inactivate the substance. And finally he tested it with deoxyribonuclease and it was enzymatically destroyed. So he concluded that the isolated transforming principle was DNA.

Answer 2

Qualitative chemical and enzyme tests helped Avery identify DNA as the transforming principle by conducting a series of tests to find out if the transforming principle was DNA or a protein and the result is that no protein was present but that DNA was present. Hope this answers your question.