[Campbell Biology P.364] Before the 1940s, why were proteins generally considered better can... | Practice Question

Before the 1940s, why were proteins generally considered better candidates for genetic material than nucleic acids?

  • A: Proteins were known to be much more abundant in cells than nucleic acids.
  • B: Nucleic acids were thought to be too uniform in their physical and chemical properties to account for the diversity of inherited traits.
  • C: Proteins were easier to isolate and study in the laboratory.
  • D: DNA was believed to be a structural component of chromosomes, not a carrier of genetic information.

Explanation

The text states: 'Moreover, little was known about nucleic acids, whose physical and chemical properties seemed far too uniform to account for the multitude of specific inherited traits exhibited by every organism.' This contrasts with proteins, which have 'great heterogeneity and specificity of function'.