Campbell (8th ed.

) p 305-308 (3 Experiments)

Determining that DNA is Genetic Material in Cells

DNA #1

1888
Boveri Chromosomes are comprised of DNA and Protein Molecules
1902
Sutton and Boveri Chromosomes hold Informational Units called Genes
1909
Johanneson Genes influence the Phenotype of an Organism
Is DNA or Protein the Genetic Information found within Cells?

DNA

vs.

Protein

1928
Griffith Experiments with Virulent and Non-virulent Strains of Streptococcus Bacteria
show that Biomolecules can Transform Cells and act as Genetic Information
1944
Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty Experiments with Streptococcus Bacteria show that
DNA is the Biomolecule that holds Genetic Information
Many Scientists still argued that Protein was Genetic Information
Did the techniques used in the experiment yield pure samples of biomolecules?
Prokaryotic cells are not real organisms. Their heredity is not the same as in
eukaryotes. Proteins still control eukaryotic cell inheritance.
DNA only has 4 bases. The code is too simple. Proteins must be the unit of heredity.
However, by the end of the 1950s, mounting evidence shifted the popular view to the
idea that DNA is genetic information.
1952
Hershey and Chase Experiments with T2 Bacteriophage show that DNA is Genetic
Material

DNA
DNA is universally considered to be the Genetic Information within Cells.

1928 Fred Griffith Genetic Transformation of Bacteria

Streptococcus pneumoniae
Smooth Strain = Virulent (Disease Causing)
Rough Strain = Non-virulent (Non-disease Causing)

S-strain
bacteria are
protected from
the mouses
immune
system by a
capsule.

R-strain
bacteria are
killed by the
mouses
immune
system since a
capsule is not
present.

S-strain
bacteria are
killed by heat
and are broken
in to their
component
biomolecules.

R-strain bacteria are changed

into living S-strain bacteria
when they are mixed with
biomolecules from heat killed
S-strain bacteria.

Conclusion Griffith concluded that the living R-strain bacteria had been transformed into
pathogenic S-strain bacteria by an unknown, heritable substance from the dead S-strain
bacteria cells that subsequently allowed the R-strain bacteria cells to make capsules.

A biomolecule must act as genetic information in cells.

1944 Oswald Avery, Maclyn McCarty, Colin MacLeod DNA is the

Transforming Factor

Conclusion Transformation cannot occur unless DNA is present. Therefore, DNA must
be the hereditary material.

DNA is the genetic information within cells.

1952 Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase DNA is the Genetic Material in
the T2 Bacteriophage Virus

Hershey and Chase Experiment

The viral protein capsid

remains outside the bacteria
cell.

Viral DNA is injected into the

bacteria cell.

T-even phages use their tail pieces (protein capsid) to

attach to the host cell and inject their genetic
material (DNA).

DNA functions as the genetic material in T2 phages.