Question

After mixing a heat-killed, phosphorescent strain of bacteria with a living nonphosphorescent strain, you discover that some of the living cells are now phosphorescent. Which observations would provide the best evidence that the ability to fluoresce is a heritable trait?
A) DNA passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain.
B) Protein passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain.
C) The phosphorescence in the living strain is especially bright.
D) Descendants of the living cells are also phosphorescent.
E) Both DNA and protein passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain.

Answer 1

Answer:

A) DNA passed from the heat-killed strain to the living strain.

Explanation:

This is an analogue to the Griffith´s experiment, reported in 1928. He tested Streptococcus pneumoniae transformation, which changed from non virulent to virulent. That was the first experimental evidence of bacterial transformation, this is, the transference of genetic material from one bacteria to another.