Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Question:

Tha Matthew Meselson and Franklin Stahl experiment was to prove that DNA replicates semiconservative.It was shown first in Escherichia coli and subsequently in higher organisms, such as plants and human cells .The scheme suggested that the two strands would separate and act as a template for the synthesis of new complementary strands. After the completion of replication, each DNA molecule would have one parental and one newly synthesised strand. This scheme was termed as semiconservative DNA replication . Very similar experiments involving use of radioactive thymidine to detect distribution of newly synthesised DNA in the chromosomes was performed on Vicia faba (faba beans) by Taylor and colleagues in 1958. The experiments proved that the DNA in chromosomes also replicate semiconservatively.

Statement I : DNA in chromosomes replicate semiconservatively.

Statement II : Both DNA and RNA are able to mutate , RNA being unstable, mutate at a faster rate.

Options:

Only statement I is correct.

Only statement II is correct.

Both statement I and statement II are correct.

Both statement I and statement II are incorrect.

Correct Answer:

Both statement I and statement II are correct.

Explanation:

Both DNA and RNA are able to mutate. In fact, RNA being unstable, mutate at a faster rate. Consequently, viruses having RNA genome and having shorter life span mutate and evolve faster.

During replication two strands would separate and act as a template for the synthesis of new complementary strands. After the completion of replication, each DNA molecule would have one parental and one newly synthesised strand. This scheme was termed as semiconservative DNA replication . So the DNA in chromosomes replicate semiconservatively.