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NEET-UG Biology · Class 12

Which experiment proved DNA is the genetic material — NEET & JEE Questions

Which experiment proved DNA is the genetic material is a topic in Molecular Basis of Inheritance, a Class 12 Biology chapter of the NEET-UG syllabus. TestBudy holds 15 published NEET-UG questions on Which experiment proved DNA is the genetic material, each with the marking scheme of the real paper. The ideas it examines include Griffith's transforming principle in mice, Avery, MacLeod and McCarty's enzyme test, Hershey-Chase and the radioactive labels used.

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Key formulas and concepts

The ideas Which experiment proved DNA is the genetic material is examined on, as they are tagged in the syllabus tree.

  • Griffith's transforming principle in mice
  • Avery, MacLeod and McCarty's enzyme test
  • Hershey-Chase and the radioactive labels used
  • Why RNA came first as genetic material

Which experiment proved DNA is the genetic material MCQs with solutions

10 of the 15 published questions on this topic, exactly as they appear in a test. Answers and worked solutions come with your result rather than on this page.

  1. Question 1 · difficulty L1 · recall

    The experiment demonstrating transformation in pneumococcus:

    • A. Morgan cross
    • B. Griffith experiment
    • C. Miller experiment
    • D. Meselson-Stahl experiment
  2. Question 2 · difficulty L1 · recall

    The experiment using bacteriophages to support DNA as genetic material:

    • A. Griffith experiment
    • B. Beadle-Tatum experiment
    • C. Miller experiment
    • D. Hershey-Chase experiment
  3. Question 3 · difficulty L1 · recall

    The scientists who identified DNA as the transforming principle using purified components:

    • A. Jacob and Monod
    • B. Meselson and Stahl
    • C. Avery, MacLeod and McCarty
    • D. Watson and Crick
  4. Question 4 · difficulty L2 · understanding

    In the Hershey-Chase experiment, which result supported DNA as the genetic material of bacteriophages?

    • A. Phosphorus-labelled DNA entered bacteria
    • B. Sulfur-labelled protein entered bacteria while phosphorus remained outside
    • C. Neither isotope entered bacterial cells
    • D. Both isotopes entered cells equally
  5. Question 5 · difficulty L2 · understanding

    Match List-I with List-II List - I List - II A Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase I Streptococcus pneumoniae B Euchromatin II Densely packed and dark-stained C Frederick Griffith III Loosely packed and light-stained D Heterochromatin IV DNA as genetic material confirmation Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

    • A. A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II
    • B. A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I
    • C. A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
    • D. A-IV, B-II, C-I, D-III
  6. Question 6 · difficulty L2 · understanding

    In the Hershey-Chase experiment, bacteriophage DNA and protein were distinguished by labelling them respectively with

    • A. 32P^{32}P and 35S^{35}S
    • B. 35S^{35}S and 32P^{32}P
    • C. 14C^{14}C and 3H^{3}H
    • D. 15N^{15}N and 18O^{18}O
  7. Question 7 · difficulty L3 · application

    Heat-killed virulent bacteria transform live non-virulent bacteria, but transformation stops after DNase treatment. What does this indicate?

    • A. Heat alone creates virulence
    • B. Protein is the transforming principle
    • C. RNA is always the only genetic material
    • D. DNA is the transforming principle
  8. Question 8 · difficulty L3 · understanding

    Match List I with List II List - I List - II A. Frederick Griffith I. Genetic code B. Francois Jacob & Jacque Monod II. Semi-conservative mode of DNA replication C. Har Gobind Khorana III. Tranformation D. Meselson & Stahl IV. Lac operon Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

    • A. A-III, B-II, C-I, D-IV
    • B. A-III, B-IV, C-I, D-II
    • C. A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
    • D. A-IV, B-II, C-II, D-III
  9. Question 9 · difficulty L3 · understanding

    Which scientist conducted an experiment with 32 P and 35 S labelled phages for demonstrating that DNA is the genetic material?

    • A. james D. Watson and F.H. C. Crick
    • B. A. D Hershey and M.J. Chase
    • C. F. Griffith
    • D. O.T. Avery, C.M. MacLeod and M. McCarty
  10. Question 10 · difficulty L3 · understanding

    With reference to Hershey and Chase experiments. Select the correct statements. (A) Viruses grown in the presence of radioactive phosphorus contained radioactive DNA. (B) Viruses grown on radioactive sulphur contained radioactive proteins. (C) Viruses grown on radioactive phosphorus contained radioactive protein. (D) Viruses grown on radioactive sulphur contained radioactive DNA. (E) Viruses grown on radioactive protein contained radioactive DNA. Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

    • A. (D) and (E) only
    • B. (A) and (B) only
    • C. (A) and (C) only
    • D. (B) and (D) only

Common mistakes in Which experiment proved DNA is the genetic material

Recorded against questions in this topic that are not shown above, so none of these points at an answer you can see on this page.

  • Interprets pellet radioactivity as evidence that labelled protein entered the cells.
  • Treats the protease result as evidence that protein carries the transforming information.
  • Credits Griffith with chemically proving that the transforming principle was DNA.
  • Collapses distinct experiments into one or assigns their methods to the wrong investigators.

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