Question

The Meselson-Stahl experiment provided the necessary evidence to discover the mechanism by which DNA replicates. They accomplished this discovery by first culturing DNA with the heavy 15N nitrogen isotope. They then allowed the "heavy" DNA to replicate with DNA grown in normal 14N nitrogen. The density of each generation of replicated DNA was recorded by marking its position in a test tube after centrifugation. The position of each generation was then compared to the positions of pure 15N DNA and pure 14N DNA. Suppose that the first generation after replication revealed two bands after being centrifuged: one at the pure 14N mark, and one at the pure 15N mark. Which method of replication would this observation support? (2 points) A. Dispersive replication B. Conservative replication C. Semiconservative replication D. Another generation would be needed in order to find a viable mechanism

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Semiconservative replication

Explanation:

Semiconservative replication is a mechanism of replication. Semiconservative model of replication states that in daughter cell, with new double-stranded DNA (cell after replication and mitosis) one strand is from the original template molecule while other is newly synthesized.

This is possible thanks to complementary pairing in DNA (each original strand of double-helix DNA is used as a template for the synthesis of the new strand).