Chapter 16 Homework Questions

1. How did the experiments of Avery & coworkers point to DNA as the material of which genes were made?

2. Did the Hershey-Chases experiment establish that DNA is the genetic material in all organisms?

3. Did either Avery et al. or Hershey-Chase experiments explain how DNA could function as the genetic material? Explain

4. What are the functions ascribed to the genetic material?

5. Discuss why proteins were favored over nucleic acids as the material of which genes are made prior to 1940.

6. Why were 32-P and 35-S chosen for the Hershey-Chase experiment??

7. What are Chargaff’s rules?

8. Are there any exceptions to the notion that DNA is the genetic material in all organisms?

9. List 3 main differences between DNA and RNA?

10. What are the three hypothetical modes of DNA replication? What is the evidence that supports one of these modes?

11. What are the proteins/enzymes involved in DNA replication?

12. What is the difference between what occurs on the leading strand and what occurs on the lagging strand in DNA replication.

13. What is a telomere and what is its importance to DNA replication in eukaryotic organisms?