Biology
Biology
5th Edition
ISBN: 9781260487947
Author: BROOKER
Publisher: MCG
bartleby

Concept explainers

bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Book Icon
Chapter 11, Problem 1TY

Why did researchers initially believe that the genetic material was composed of proteins?

  1. a. Proteins are more biochemically complex than DNA.
  2. b. Proteins are found only in the nucleus, but DNA is found in many areas of the cell.
  3. c. Proteins are much larger molecules and can store more information than DNA.
  4. d. all of the above
  5. e. both a and c
Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
Summary Introduction

Introduction: Every organism present in nature contains genetic material. There are two types of genetic material and they are DNA and RNA. DNA stands for “deoxyribonucleic acid” and RNA represents “ribonucleic acid”. In eukaryotes, the genetic material is enclosed by a well-defined nuclear membrane. However, prokaryotic organisms lack a nuclear membrane.

Answer to Problem 1TY

Correct answer: The researchers initially believed that the genetic material was composed of proteins because proteins are more biochemically complex than DNA. Hence, the correct answer is option a.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for correct answer:

The scientists in the earlier time have a great misconception that protein was the genetic material. They believed this because they were aware of the involvement of the protein in most of the cellular activities. The variety of proteins also paved way to this misconception. They were not much aware of DNA. They believed that since proteins are more biochemically complex than DNA, it must be the genetic material.

Option a. is given as “Proteins are more biochemically complex than DNA”.

Proteins are more biochemically complex than DNA. Therefore, the researchers initially believed that the genetic material was composed of proteins. Hence, the correct answer is option a.

Reasons for incorrect answer:

Option b. is given as, “Proteins are found only in the nucleus, but DNA is found in many areas of the cell”.

The nucleus contains both DNA and proteins (histones). It is protein and not DNA that is found in many areas of the cell. Proteins are present in every part of the cell, such as in cytoplasm, organelle, nucleus, and cell membrane. However, DNA is the constituent of the nucleus only. Hence, option b. is incorrect.

Option c. is given as, “Proteins are much larger molecules and can store more information than DNA”.

The earlier scientists believed that proteins are the major constituents of the genetic material. They had this misconception on the basis that proteins are more biochemically complex than DNA. This belief of the researchers had no association with the larger size of proteins. Hence, option c. is incorrect.

Option d. is given as, “all of the above”.

The earlier scientist believed that the genetic material was composed of proteins as proteins are more biochemically complex than DNA. They did not make this conception due to the other reasons mentioned in option b. and c. Hence, option d. is incorrect.

Option e. is given as, “both a. and c”.

The option a. correctly describes the reason due to which the researchers initially believed that the genetic material was composed of proteins and not DNA. However, the option c. has no role in this misconception. Hence, option e. is incorrect.

Hence, the options b., c., d., and e. are incorrect.

Conclusion

Therefore, the reason that the researchers initially believed that the genetic material was composed of proteins was that proteins are more biochemically complex than the DNA.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
Segments of DNA act as templates that guide the amino acids to join together to form   a. proteins.   b. sugars.   c. phosphates.   d. fours kinds of bases.   e. all of the above.
Genetic information flows in one direction. Which of the following exceptions can actually occur?   a. DNA to Protein   b. RNA to DNA   c. Protein to DNA   d. Protein to RNA
Which of the following statements about nucleic acids is not correct? Select one: A. In DNA the distance between the strands of the double helix is relatively constant. B. The growing DNA polymer is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction. C. The enzymes that catalyze DNA synthesis are known as DNA polymerases. D. RNA strands are synthesized in the 3' to 5' direction. E. Unlike DNA, RNA is easily cleaved because the 2'-OH group of the ribose is a nucleophile that catalyzes hydrolysis of the strand.
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
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
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Biology 2e
Biology
ISBN:9781947172517
Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:OpenStax
Text book image
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:9781259398629
Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa Stouter
Publisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
Text book image
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
Text book image
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:9781260159363
Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, Cynthia
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
Text book image
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:9781260231700
Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael Windelspecht
Publisher:McGraw Hill Education
genetic recombination strategies of bacteria CONJUGATION, TRANSDUCTION AND TRANSFORMATION; Author: Scientist Cindy;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Va8FZJEl9A;License: Standard youtube license