Chapter 12.2, Problem 2TPSQ

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The reason that why and why not Meselson and Stahl have used two different isotopes of carbon, instead of ${}^{\text{14}}\text{N}\text{and}{}^{\text{15}}\text{N}$.

Introduction:

Watson and Crick proposed semi conservative hypothesis which explains that each DNA molecule after replication will have one old or parental strand and one newly synthesized daughter strand. This is called semi conservative replication.

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The reason that why and why not Meselson and Stahl have used two different isotopes of sulfur, instead of ${}^{\text{14}}\text{N}\text{and}{}^{\text{15}}\text{N}$.

Introduction:

The DNA molecule replicate semi conservatively. Each of the two strands separate and act as a template for the new strand. This results in the formation of daughter double helix which has one old strand and one new strand.