Question

For a couple of decades, biologists knew the nucleus contained DNA and proteins. The prevailing opinion was that the genetic material was proteins, and not DNA. The reason for this belief was that proteins are more complex than DNA. This is because

a.proteins have a greater variety of three-dimensional forms than does DNA
b.proteins have two different levels of structural organization; DNA has four
c.proteins are made of 20 amino acids and DNA is made of four nucleotides
d.Only A and C are correct
e.A, B, and C are correct

Answer 1

The belief that proteins were the genetic material instead of DNA was due to proteins' greater three-dimensional variety and being composed of more building blocks (20 amino acids) compared to DNA's four nucleotides, making option d the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the early 20th century, scientists thought that proteins, not DNA, were the genetic material because proteins are more complex than DNA. The reasons for this belief included:

• Proteins have a greater variety of three-dimensional forms than does DNA.
• Proteins are made of 20 amino acids, whereas DNA is made of four nucleotides.

Answering the student's question, the correct reason for the initial belief that proteins were the genetic material instead of DNA is because:

d. Only A and C are correct.