Class 12 · Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Historical Path to DNA as Genetic Material — NEET Biology

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Even 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.

NCERT Biology · Class 12 · Chapter 5 · Paragraph 24
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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

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