Question

According to Beadle and Tatum’s "one gene–one enzyme" hypothesis, which of the following enzymes will eliminate the transformation of hereditary material from pathogenic bacteria to nonpathogenic bacteria?

a) Ligase
b) Lyase
c) Mutase
d) Nuclease

Answer 1

A nuclease, specifically DNase, is the enzyme that will prevent the transformation of genetic material from pathogenic to nonpathogenic bacteria according to Beadle and Tatum's "one gene–one enzyme" hypothesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Beadle and Tatum's "one gene–one enzyme" hypothesis, the enzyme that will eliminate the transformation of hereditary material from pathogenic bacteria to nonpathogenic bacteria is DNase, which is an example of a nuclease. Enzymes like these are known for their ability to degrade DNA. The transformative ability of the bacteria is tied to the presence of DNA, as demonstrated in experiments by scientists such as Oswald Avery, Colin MacLeod, and Maclyn McCarty who found that DNA was the transforming principle when they observed that transformation did not occur if DNA was destroyed. Therefore, a nuclease that breaks down DNA would prevent the transmission of genetic information, blocking the process known as transformation.