Biochemical nature of Transforming Principle
Bacteriologists performed a series of experiments to identify the Transforming Principle.
- Transforming principle precipitated with alcohol. This showed it was not Carbohydrate.
- Transforming principle could not be destroyed with Proteases. Thus, it was not Protein.
- Transforming principle could not be destroyed with Lipases. This proved it was neither Lipids.
- Transforming principle could not be inactivated with Ribonuclease, hence not RNA.
- Transforming principle could be inactivated with Deoxyribonuclease.
Transforming principle was DNA. Therefore, DNA was the genetic material.
