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Molecular Basis of Inheritance Griffiths Expt
Molecular Basis of Inheritance Griffiths Expt
Molecular Basis of Inheritance Griffiths Expt
i.He observed two strains of this bacterium, some produce shiny colonies (S) while
others produce rough colonies(R) strain . S- strain bacteria have a mucous
(polysaccharide) coat, while R- strain does not have.
ii. The S- strain bacteria are virulent while the R-strain bacteria are non-virulent.
iii.When live S- type bacteria were injected into mice , they died from pneumonia.
v. Heat killed S- strain bacteria injected into mice , did not kill them.
vi. Heat killed S- strain were mixed with R-stains (live) and then injected into mice, the
mice died of pneumonia.
Heat killed S- strain + R-strain (live) → inject into mice → mice die.
vii. He isolated living S-bacterium from the dead mice. He concluded that the R-strain
bacteria had somehow been transformed by the heat killed S- strain bacteria. Some
transforming principle transferred from the heat killed S-strain bacteria. It changed the
R-bacteria into S- bacteria, so R- bacteria were able to produce smooth polysaccharide
coat and become virulent.
They purified bio-chemicals (DNA, RNA, Proteins etc.,) from the heat killed S-cells.
Also protein digesting enzymes and RNA digesting enzymes did not affect
transformation, so transforming substance was not RNA or protein. Digestion with
DNA which inhibits transformation suggested DNA causes transformation.