Question

which elements (other than n) could have been used to mark dna for this experiment? sulfur (s) carbon (c) oxygen (o)

Answer 1

Besides nitrogen, sulfur (S), carbon (C), and oxygen (O) could potentially be used to mark DNA, with sulfur more commonly used for protein labeling due to its presence in certain amino acids, and carbon and oxygen being integral to DNA but less specific for marking.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of marking DNA for experimental purposes, elements other than nitrogen (N) that could be used include sulfur (S), carbon (C), and oxygen (O). These elements are among the most abundant in living organisms and have the capability to form strong chemical bonds. Sulfur, being in the same group as oxygen, shows some similar chemical behavior, which is exemplified by Gertrude Elion's use of sulfur-based compounds as purine analogues to disrupt DNA replication, a method which later earned her a Nobel Prize.

For DNA marking, phosphorous (P) is typically used instead of sulfur because phosphorous is a component of the DNA backbone in the form of phosphate groups. However, sulfur can be used to label proteins since sulfur is found in some amino acids like cysteine and methionine. Carbon and oxygen are also integral parts of DNA and could theoretically be used for labeling, although their uses are less common due to their ubiquity in all organic compounds, making them less specific as markers.

Answer 2

The elements other than nitrogen that could have been used to mark DNA for this experiment is C) oxygen (O)

Step-by-step explanation:

Sulfur is often used to label proteins in experiments because it is incorporated into the amino acids cysteine and methionine, which are the building blocks of proteins. However, sulfur is not commonly used to label DNA.

Carbon is a major component of DNA and is present in the sugar-phosphate backbone of the molecule. However, carbon labeling is not commonly used in DNA experiments

Oxygen is also a major component of DNA and is present in the sugar molecules that make up the backbone. Oxygen labeling is commonly used in DNA experiments, especially in studies that involve DNA sequencing.

Therefore, the correct answer is C) oxygen (O), because it is commonly used to mark DNA in experiments.