Recall the experiment done by Frederick Griffith. If RNA, instead of DNA was the genetic material, would the heat killed strain of strep have transformed the R-strain into virulent strain? Explain your answer.

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Griffith's Experiment**: Frederick Griffith conducted experiments with two strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae: the rough (R) strain, which is non-virulent, and the smooth (S) strain, which is virulent. He found that when he injected mice with the heat-killed S strain mixed with the live R strain, the mice died, and live S strain bacteria were recovered from them. This indicated that some "transforming principle" from the heat-killed S strain had transformed the R strain into a virulent form.

2. **Identifying the Genetic Material**: The key question is whether RNA could serve as the genetic material instead of DNA. In Griffith's experiment, it was later determined through the work of Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty that DNA was the actual transforming principle responsible for the transformation of the R strain into the S strain.

3. **Properties of RNA vs. DNA**: RNA is typically single-stranded and less stable than double-stranded DNA. When subjected to heat, RNA tends to disintegrate and lose its functional integrity. In contrast, DNA can separate into single strands when heated but can re-anneal when cooled, maintaining its structural integrity.

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