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
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Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
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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?

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