The beginning of understanding genetic transformation in bacteria was ...
Frederick Griffith, was the first person to prove that bacteria are capable of transferring genetic information through transformation.
The beginning of understanding genetic transformation in bacteria was ...
Introduction to Genetic Transformation
The concept of genetic transformation in bacteria was pioneered by Frederick Griffith in 1928. His groundbreaking experiments laid the foundation for understanding how genetic material can be transferred between organisms.
Griffith's Experiment
- Griffith worked with two strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae: a virulent strain (smooth, S) and a non-virulent strain (rough, R).
- He injected mice with these strains to observe their effects. The S strain caused pneumonia and death, while the R strain did not cause illness.
Key Observations
- When Griffith injected mice with heat-killed S strain bacteria, the mice survived.
- However, when he mixed heat-killed S strain with live R strain bacteria and injected this mixture into mice, the mice developed pneumonia and died.
Conclusion from Griffith's Findings
- Griffith discovered that the non-virulent R strain had been transformed into a virulent S strain by some "transforming principle" present in the heat-killed S strain.
- This transformation indicated that genetic information could be transferred between bacteria, suggesting that DNA was the molecule responsible for heredity.
Significance of Griffith's Work
- Griffith's experiment was pivotal in establishing the field of molecular genetics.
- It prompted further research, leading to the identification of DNA as the genetic material by subsequent scientists, including Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty.
In summary, Frederick Griffith's experiments provided essential insights into bacterial transformation, making option 'C' the correct answer in understanding the origins of genetic transformation in bacteria.