Suppose Meselson and Stahl labeled bacterial DNA with heavy nitrogen (15N, a stable isotope) and with radioactive carbon (14C), then allowed the bacteria to grow two generations in the presence of light nitrogen and non-radioactive carbon. If they extracted the DNA from the second generation of bacteria and centrifuged it: a. How many bands of DNA would there be in the centrifuge tube? b. Where would the bands be in the centrifuge tube (top means least dense to bottom means most dense)? c. For each band, what fraction of the total DNA would it represent? d. For which bands would be radioactive?

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Question

Suppose Meselson and Stahl labeled bacterial DNA with heavy nitrogen (15N, a stable isotope) and with radioactive carbon (14C), then allowed the bacteria to grow two generations in the presence of light nitrogen and non-radioactive carbon. If they extracted the DNA from the second generation of bacteria and centrifuged it:

a. How many bands of DNA would there be in the centrifuge tube?

b. Where would the bands be in the centrifuge tube (top means least dense to bottom means most dense)?

c. For each band, what fraction of the total DNA would it represent?

d. For which bands would be radioactive?

Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
DNA and RNA
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9780134580999
Author:
Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:
PEARSON
Biology 2e
Biology 2e
Biology
ISBN:
9781947172517
Author:
Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:
OpenStax
Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:
9781259398629
Author:
McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa Stouter
Publisher:
Mcgraw Hill Education,
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9780815344322
Author:
Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter
Publisher:
W. W. Norton & Company
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:
9781260159363
Author:
Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, Cynthia
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9781260231700
Author:
Sylvia S. Mader, Michael Windelspecht
Publisher:
McGraw Hill Education