The DNA of a phage was injected into the bacterial host, but the protein coat remained outside. The viral DNA directed the host to replicate the new phage viruses. Which scientist(s) are associated with this finding?
Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
- 2. Chemistry3h 37m
- 3. Water1h 26m
- 4. Biomolecules2h 23m
- 5. Cell Components2h 26m
- 6. The Membrane2h 31m
- 7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
- 8. Respiration2h 40m
- 9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
- 10. Cell Signaling59m
- 11. Cell Division2h 47m
- 12. Meiosis2h 0m
- 13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
- Introduction to Mendel's Experiments7m
- Genotype vs. Phenotype17m
- Punnett Squares13m
- Mendel's Experiments26m
- Mendel's Laws18m
- Monohybrid Crosses19m
- Test Crosses14m
- Dihybrid Crosses20m
- Punnett Square Probability26m
- Incomplete Dominance vs. Codominance20m
- Epistasis7m
- Non-Mendelian Genetics12m
- Pedigrees6m
- Autosomal Inheritance21m
- Sex-Linked Inheritance43m
- X-Inactivation9m
- 14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
- 15. Gene Expression3h 6m
- 16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
- Introduction to Regulation of Gene Expression13m
- Prokaryotic Gene Regulation via Operons27m
- The Lac Operon21m
- Glucose's Impact on Lac Operon25m
- The Trp Operon20m
- Review of the Lac Operon & Trp Operon11m
- Introduction to Eukaryotic Gene Regulation9m
- Eukaryotic Chromatin Modifications16m
- Eukaryotic Transcriptional Control22m
- Eukaryotic Post-Transcriptional Regulation28m
- Eukaryotic Post-Translational Regulation13m
- 17. Viruses37m
- 18. Biotechnology2h 58m
- 19. Genomics17m
- 20. Development1h 5m
- 21. Evolution3h 1m
- 22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
- 23. Speciation1h 37m
- 24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
- 25. Phylogeny2h 31m
- 26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
- 27. Protists1h 12m
- 28. Plants1h 22m
- 29. Fungi36m
- 30. Overview of Animals34m
- 31. Invertebrates1h 2m
- 32. Vertebrates50m
- 33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
- 34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- 35. Soil37m
- 36. Plant Reproduction47m
- 37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
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- 39. Digestive System1h 10m
- 40. Circulatory System1h 49m
- 41. Immune System1h 12m
- 42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- 43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- 44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- 45. Nervous System1h 55m
- 46. Sensory Systems46m
- 47. Muscle Systems23m
- 48. Ecology3h 11m
- Introduction to Ecology20m
- Biogeography14m
- Earth's Climate Patterns50m
- Introduction to Terrestrial Biomes10m
- Terrestrial Biomes: Near Equator13m
- Terrestrial Biomes: Temperate Regions10m
- Terrestrial Biomes: Northern Regions15m
- Introduction to Aquatic Biomes27m
- Freshwater Aquatic Biomes14m
- Marine Aquatic Biomes13m
- 49. Animal Behavior28m
- 50. Population Ecology3h 41m
- Introduction to Population Ecology28m
- Population Sampling Methods23m
- Life History12m
- Population Demography17m
- Factors Limiting Population Growth14m
- Introduction to Population Growth Models22m
- Linear Population Growth6m
- Exponential Population Growth29m
- Logistic Population Growth32m
- r/K Selection10m
- The Human Population22m
- 51. Community Ecology2h 46m
- Introduction to Community Ecology2m
- Introduction to Community Interactions9m
- Community Interactions: Competition (-/-)38m
- Community Interactions: Exploitation (+/-)23m
- Community Interactions: Mutualism (+/+) & Commensalism (+/0)9m
- Community Structure35m
- Community Dynamics26m
- Geographic Impact on Communities21m
- 52. Ecosystems2h 36m
- 53. Conservation Biology24m
14. DNA Synthesis
Meselson-Stahl Experiment
Problem 9a
Textbook Question
In the late 1950s, Herbert Taylor grew bean root-tip cells in a solution of radioactive thymidine (a precursor to one of the deoxyribonucleotides in DNA) and allowed them to undergo one round of DNA replication. He then transferred the cells to a solution without radioactive thymidine, allowed them to replicate again, and examined their chromosomes for the presence of radioactivity. His results are shown in the following figure, where red indicates a radioactive chromatid.

(a) Draw labeled diagrams of double-stranded DNA molecules that explain the pattern of radioactivity observed in the sister chromatids after the first and second rounds of replication.

1
Understand the concept of DNA replication: DNA replication is a semi-conservative process where each of the two strands of the DNA helix serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. This results in two DNA molecules, each with one old strand and one new strand.
Consider the first round of replication: When the bean root-tip cells are grown in radioactive thymidine, the newly synthesized DNA strands incorporate the radioactive thymidine. Therefore, after the first round of replication, each double-stranded DNA molecule will consist of one original non-radioactive strand and one newly synthesized radioactive strand.
Visualize the first round of replication: Draw a diagram showing two double-stranded DNA molecules. Each molecule should have one strand labeled as 'non-radioactive' and the other strand labeled as 'radioactive'. This represents the semi-conservative replication where one strand is old and the other is new.
Consider the second round of replication: The cells are now in a solution without radioactive thymidine. During this round, each strand (both radioactive and non-radioactive) serves as a template for the synthesis of a new complementary strand. The new strands synthesized in this round will be non-radioactive because they are not exposed to radioactive thymidine.
Visualize the second round of replication: Draw a diagram showing four double-stranded DNA molecules. Two molecules will have one radioactive strand and one non-radioactive strand, while the other two molecules will have both strands non-radioactive. This pattern reflects the semi-conservative nature of DNA replication and the absence of radioactive thymidine in the second round.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
DNA Replication
DNA replication is the process by which a cell duplicates its DNA, resulting in two identical copies. It involves unwinding the double helix and synthesizing new strands using the original strands as templates. This process is semi-conservative, meaning each new DNA molecule consists of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
Recommended video:
Guided course
Introduction to DNA Replication
Radioactive Labeling
Radioactive labeling involves incorporating radioactive isotopes into molecules to track their presence and movement within biological systems. In this experiment, radioactive thymidine was used to label newly synthesized DNA strands, allowing researchers to visualize and analyze the replication process by detecting radioactivity in the chromatids.
Recommended video:
Guided course
Radioactive Isotopes
Sister Chromatids
Sister chromatids are identical copies of a chromosome, connected by a centromere, formed during DNA replication. After replication, each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids, which separate during cell division. Observing the pattern of radioactivity in sister chromatids helps understand the distribution of labeled DNA after replication cycles.
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Eukaryotic Chromatin Modifications
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