Historical Path to DNA as Genetic Material — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptEven though the discovery of nuclein by Meischer and the proposition for principles of inheritance by Mendel were almost at the same time, but that the DNA acts as a genetic material took long to be discovered and proven. By 1926, the quest to determine the mechanism for genetic inheritance had reached the molecular level. Previous discoveries by Gregor Mendel, Walter Sutton, Thomas Hunt Morgan and numerous other scientists had narrowed the search to the chromosomes located in the nucleus of most cells. But the question of what molecule was actually the genetic material, had not been answered.
Match the following scientists with their significant contributions or observations in the field of molecular biology. Column I A. Friedrich Meischer B. James Watson and Francis Crick C. Erwin Chargaff D. Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase E. Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin Column II I. Proposed the Double Helix model of DNA II. Provided X-ray diffraction data for DNA structure III. Unequivocally proved DNA as the genetic material IV. Identified DNA as “Nuclein” V. Observed constant ratios of A/T and G/C in double-stranded DNA
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: A — A-IV, B-I, C-V, D-III, E-II
This question tests the knowledge of key scientists and their contributions to understanding the molecular basis of inheritance. A. Friedrich Meischer: He first identified DNA as an acidic substance in the nucleus and named it 'Nuclein' in 1869. So, A matches with IV. B. James Watson and Francis Crick: Based on X-ray diffraction data and Chargaff's rules, they proposed the famous Double Helix model for the structure of DNA in 1953. So, B matches with I. C. Erwin Chargaff: He observed that for a double-stranded DNA, the ratios between Adenine and Thymine and Guanine and Cytosine are constant and equal to one. So, C matches with V. D. Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase: Their experiments in 1952, using bacteriophages and radioactive isotopes, provided unequivocal proof that DNA, not protein, is the genetic material. So, D matches with III. E. Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin: They produced the crucial X-ray diffraction data that was instrumental for Watson and Crick in proposing the DNA double helix structure. So, E matches with II. The correct match is A-IV, B-I, C-V, D-III, E-II.
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