Question

Griffith's experiments were important because they showed

A. that proteins could not be the genetic material of cells
B. how genetic material was inherited in bacteria
C. that the genetic material could be passed from one cell to another
D. the true identity of the genetic material

Answer 1

Griffith's experiments demonstrated that genetic material could be transferred from one cell to another, hinting at DNA's role before it was conclusively identified in later studies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Griffith's experiments were important because they showed that the genetic material could be passed from one cell to another, indicated as option C. These landmark experiments in the 1920s involved the transformation of nonvirulent bacteria into virulent strains by a mysterious 'principle' from dead bacteria. The true identity of the genetic material, DNA, was later confirmed by other scientists such as Avery, McCarty, MacLeod, Hershey, and Chase through subsequent experiments.