In a series of experiments, DNA was extracted from pneumonia-causing bacteria and added to a tube containing mutant bacteria of the same species. The mutants had lost the ability to cause pneumonia. Mice were injected with either the mixture or with the mutant strain. Only the mice injected with the mixture died. The results can be best be explained by

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct explanation is transformation, which is the process where bacteria take up foreign DNA from their surroundings. In this experiment, the mutant bacteria incorporated DNA from the pneumonia-causing bacteria, regained the ability to cause pneumonia, and thus were able to kill the mice.

In a Series of Experiments, DNA Was Extracted from Pneumonia-Causing