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Multiple Choice
The Avery, Macleod, and McCarty experiment in 1944 figured out what?
A
Proteins were the genetic material
B
RNA was the genetic material
C
DNA was the genetic material
D
Fats were the genetic material
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the historical context: The Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty experiment was conducted in the early 1940s, a time when the scientific community was uncertain about the nature of genetic material.
Review the experimental setup: Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty used strains of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, which had two forms: a virulent (disease-causing) smooth form and a non-virulent rough form.
Analyze the key experiment: They treated the virulent bacteria with enzymes that destroyed proteins, RNA, and DNA separately to determine which component was responsible for transformation.
Interpret the results: The transformation of non-virulent bacteria into virulent bacteria occurred only when DNA was intact, indicating that DNA was the substance responsible for carrying genetic information.
Conclude the significance: This experiment provided strong evidence that DNA, not proteins, RNA, or fats, was the genetic material, fundamentally shifting the understanding of molecular biology.