The Pneumococcus experiment proves that

Options

A. DNA is the genetic material
B. RNA sometime controls the production of DNA and proteins
C. bacteria undergo binary fission
D. bacteria do not reproduce sexually

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Introduction to the Experiment**: The Pneumococcus experiment was conducted by Frederick Griffith in 1928. It involved the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, commonly known as Pneumococcus.

**Hint**: Remember the name of the scientist and the year the experiment was conducted.

2. **Types of Bacteria**: Griffith observed two types of colonies in Pneumococcus:
- S strain (smooth) which has a polysaccharide coat and is virulent (causes disease).
- R strain (rough) which lacks the coat and is non-virulent (does not cause disease).

**Hint**: Focus on the characteristics of the S and R strains and their implications for virulence.

3. **Experimental Procedure**:
- Griffith injected mice with S strain bacteria, which resulted in the death of the mice.
- He then injected mice with R strain bacteria, and these mice survived.
- Next, he injected mice with heat-killed S strain bacteria, and these mice also survived.

**Hint**: Track the outcomes of each type of injection to understand the experiment's progression.

4. **Key Observation**: In a critical part of the experiment, Griffith injected mice with a mixture of heat-killed S strain and live R strain bacteria. The mice died in this case.

**Hint**: This observation is crucial; it leads to the discovery of transformation.

5. **Conclusion of the Experiment**: The death of the mice after injecting the heat-killed S strain and live R strain indicated that the R strain had transformed into the virulent S strain. This transformation suggested that genetic material was transferred from the dead S strain to the live R strain.

**Hint**: Think about what this transformation implies about the nature of genetic material.

6. **Final Conclusion**: Griffith's experiment provided evidence that DNA is the genetic material responsible for heredity, as it was the component that facilitated the transformation of the R strain into the S strain.

**Hint**: Consider the implications of this conclusion in the broader context of genetics and molecular biology.

**Final Answer**: The Pneumococcus experiment proves that DNA is the genetic material.

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