Provide experimental evidence for semi-conservative mode of replication of DNA.

Solution

Meselson and Stahl (1958) experimentally proved that the DNA replication is semi-conservative.

1. E. coli bacterium was grown for many generations in a culture medium in which the nitrogen source contained heavy isotope N¹⁵ thus the labelling of bacterial DNA was done.

2. Later on these bacteria were cultured in N¹⁴ non-radioactive isotope.

3. DNA was analysed to determine the distribution of radioactivity.

The experiment showed that one strand of each daughter DNA molecule was radioactive whereas the other was non-radioactive.

5. During second replication in N¹⁴ medium the radioactive and nonradioactive strand separated and served as template for the synthesis of nonradioactive strands.

6. Out of four DNA molecules two are completely non-radioactive and the other two have half of molecule as non-radioactive.

7. This evidence shows that DNA replication is semi-conservative.

Meselson and Stahl’s experiment to prove the semi-conservative replication of DNA

Some More Questions From Molecular Basis of Inheritance Chapter

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Molecular Basis Of Inheritance

Provide experimental evidence for semi-conservative mode of replication of DNA.

Some More Questions From Molecular Basis of Inheritance Chapter

Why was RNA unstable ?

What made DNA more preferrable as genetic material ?

Process of replication is completed in how much time in E.coli ?

What is average rate of polymerization ?

List three components of transcription unit.

Which RNA acts as an adapter ?

Name three kinds of polymerases.

What is splicing ?

Which is more stable DNA or RNA?

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