Multiple choice

In which of the following cases would you assert that the virus used the host DNA to replicate?

  1. If radioactive sulfur from a bacteriophage is found in a bacterium

  2. If radioactive phosphorus from a bacteriophage is found in a bacterium

  3. If radioactive phosphorus from a bacterium is found in a bacteriophage

  4. If radioactive sulfur from a bacterium is found in a bacteriophage
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The DNA backbone comprises of phosphorus. If the radio-labelled phosphorus from a bacteriophage is found in the DNA of bacterium, it would logically prove that the bacteriophage used bacterium's machinery due to which the radio-labelled phosphorus existed in the bacterium.

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