Recall the experiments done by Frederick Griffith. Where DNA was speculated to be the genetic material. If RNA, instead of DNA was the genetic material, would the heat killed strain of pneumococcus have transformed the R - strain into virulent strain ? Explain ?

Explanation

RNA is more labile and prone to degradation (owing to presence of 2.OH group in its ribose). Hence heat killed .s. strain may not have retained its ability to transforms the .R. strain into virulent form if RNA was its genetic material.