When Griffith incubated heat-killed virulent S strain bacteria with live avirulent R strains, he found that R cells were transformed into lethal, disease-causing bacteria. What is the molecule responsible for the transformation of R cells into the S type? Why did the transformation occur? A. Proteins in the heat-killed S cell extract; they were able to synthesize the capsular polysaccharide in the R cells and make them virulent. B. The capsular polysaccharide in the heat-killed S cell extract; the polysaccharide was able to attach to R cells, thus making them virulent. C. DNA in the heat-killed S cell extract; the DNA altered the genetic makeup of R cells, allowing them to synthesize the polysaccharide capsule, thus making them virulent. D. Specialized lipids in the cell membrane of the S cells were able to integrate with the R cells, conferring the ability to evade host immunity.
Genetic Recombination
Recombination is crucial to this process because it allows genes to be reassorted into diverse combinations. Genetic recombination is the process of combining genetic components from two different origins into a single unit. In prokaryotes, genetic recombination takes place by the unilateral transfer of deoxyribonucleic acid. It includes transduction, transformation, and conjugation. The genetic exchange occurring between homologous deoxyribonucleic acid sequences (DNA) from two different sources is termed general recombination. For this to happen, an identical sequence of the two recombining molecules is required. The process of genetic exchange which occurs in eukaryotes during sexual reproduction such as meiosis is an example of this type of genetic recombination.
Microbial Genetics
Genes are the functional units of heredity. They transfer characteristic information from parents to the offspring.
When Griffith incubated heat-killed virulent S strain bacteria with live avirulent R strains, he found that R cells were transformed into lethal, disease-causing bacteria. What is the molecule responsible for the transformation of R cells into the S type? Why did the transformation occur?
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