M.E.

S INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA - QATAR

Notes 2020 - 2021

Section : BOYS AND GIRLS Date: 12.09.2020

Class & Div. : XII (ALL DIVISIONS) Subject: BIOLOGY
Lesson / Topic: CHAPTER 6. MOLECULAR BASIS OF INHERITANCE. NOTE I.
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TRANSFORMING PRINCIPLE: FREDERICK GRIFFITH EXPERIMENT:

Transformation was first studied by Frederick Griffith in 1928. He conducted experiments

with streptococcus pneumonia, the bacterium responsible for pneumonia.

i.He observed two strains of this bacterium, some produce shiny colonies (S) while
others produce rough colonies(R) strain . S- strain bacteria have a mucous
(polysaccharide) coat, while R- strain does not have.

ii. The S- strain bacteria are virulent while the R-strain bacteria are non-virulent.

iii.When live S- type bacteria were injected into mice , they died from pneumonia.

→iv. Mice injected with the R- strains ,mice survived.

R- strain → inject into mice → mice live.

v. Heat killed S- strain bacteria injected into mice , did not kill them.

Heat killed S- strain → inject into mice → mice live.

vi. Heat killed S- strain were mixed with R-stains (live) and then injected into mice, the
mice died of pneumonia.

Heat killed S- strain + R-strain (live) → inject into mice → mice die.

vii. He isolated living S-bacterium from the dead mice. He concluded that the R-strain
bacteria had somehow been transformed by the heat killed S- strain bacteria. Some
transforming principle transferred from the heat killed S-strain bacteria. It changed the
R-bacteria into S- bacteria, so R- bacteria were able to produce smooth polysaccharide
coat and become virulent.

BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF TRANSFORMING PRINCIPLE:

The three scientists worked to determine the biochemical nature of 'transforming

principle' in Griffith's experiment.

They purified bio-chemicals (DNA, RNA, Proteins etc.,) from the heat killed S-cells.

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These fractions were inserted individually alongwith live R-cells. DNA was able to
transform R-cells into S-cells.

Also protein digesting enzymes and RNA digesting enzymes did not affect
transformation, so transforming substance was not RNA or protein. Digestion with
DNA which inhibits transformation suggested DNA causes transformation.

They concluded that DNA is the hereditary material.

F 061, Rev 01, dtd 10th March 2020