11 Molecular Genetics

ENCOUNTER THE PHENOMENON

Write the Encounter the Phenomenon question for this module.

Why do the rungs of the DNA ladder appear “broken?”

Use the “What I Know” column to list the things you know about the Encounter the Phenomenon
question. Then list the questions you have about the Encounter the Phenomenon question in the
“What I Want to Find Out” column. As you read the module, fill in the “What I Learned” column.

K W L
What I Know What I Want to Find Out What I Learned
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Molecular Genetics
1 DNA: The Genetic Material
REVIEW Recall the definition of the Review Vocabulary term.
VOCABULARY
nucleic acid a biomolecule that stores cellular information in the form
nucleic acid
of a code

NEW VOCABULARY Use your book to define the term. In the box to the right, make a
sketch to help you remember its definition.
double helix
double helix shape of a DNA
Students’ sketches will vary,
molecule consisting of two strands
but should show a twisted
of nucleotides that are twisted into ladder shape.

a coil and held together by the

nitrogenous bases

ACADEMIC
Define transform to show its scientific meaning.
VOCABULARY

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transform transform to cause a change in type or kind

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 1 DNA: The Genetic Material (continued)
Complete the table below about geneticists and their discoveries.

Scientist Discovery Year

Frederick Griffith discovered a transforming 1928
factor that could change rough
bacteria into smooth bacteria

Oswald Avery identified DNA as the 1944

transforming factor

Alfred Hershey and proved that DNA was the 1952

Martha Chase genetic material in a virus

James Watson and discovered that the structure 1953

Francis Crick of DNA is a double helix

Get It? Explain how Avery discovered the transforming factor.

When Avery exposed live R strain bacteria to DNA from killed S strain

bacteria, the R cells were transformed to S cells.

Get It? Explain why it is important that new viruses were produced

in the bacteria in the Hershey-Chase experiment.
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It showed that the genetic material in the form of DNA, not proteins,

had entered the bacteria.

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1 DNA: The Genetic Material (continued)
Get It? Explain the contributions of Franklin, Wilkins, Watson, and
Crick in the discovery of DNA’s structure.

Wilkins and Franklin provided X-ray diffraction data that was synthesized

with other data by Watson and Crick to solve the structure of DNA.

Organize the characteristics of nucleotides by filling in the

graphic organizer below.

Characteristics of Nucleotides

All nucleotides have

a one of four
a five-carbon
phosphate nitrogenous
sugar
group bases

In DNA it is In DNA they are

cytosine, guanine,
deoxyribose
adenine, and thymine

and in RNA it is and in RNA they are

cytosine, guanine,
ribose
adenine, and uracil

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Create a memory device to help you remember how the nitrogenous
bases in DNA are always paired.

Accept all reasonable responses that pair adenine with thymine and

cytosine with guanine. Sample response: Aunt Tillie and Cousin Gus

Get It? Explain why Chargaff’s data was an important clue for

putting together the structure of DNA.

Chargaff’s data hinted that bases were specifically paired.

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 1 DNA: The Genetic Material (continued)
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
1. Summarize the experiments of Griffith and Avery that indicated that DNA is the
genetic material.
Griffith showed that bacteria could be transformed by the transfer of genetic material; Avery showed

that DNA was the transforming factor.

2. Describe the conclusions drawn by Hershey and Chase about the substance
responsible for the transfer of genetic information.
Hershey and Chase drew the conclusion that DNA, not protein, was the genetic material that could

be passed from generation to generation.

3. Describe the data used by Watson and Crick to determine the structure of DNA.
Franklin’s Photo 51 showed a helix shape. Her mathematical data showed distances between the

strands. Chagraff’s data suggested how bases pair.

4. Describe two characteristics that DNA needs to fulfill its role as a genetic material.
DNA must code for proteins and be able to replicate.

5. Explain what the story of determining the structure of DNA tells us about the nature of science.
The structure of DNA was determined over a long period of time by a number of scientists. The

final determination was the result of a collaborative effort, generating new information based on
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previous knowledge. This illustrates the nature of science.

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1 DNA: The Genetic Material (continued)
6. Evaluate Hershey and Chase’s decision to use radioactive phosphorus and sulfur
for their experiments. Could they have used carbon or oxygen instead? Why or
why not?
They used radioactive sulfur because sulfur is found only in proteins and radioactive phosphorus

because phosphorus is found only in DNA. They could not have used carbon or oxygen because

those elements are found in both DNA and proteins.

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