Question

What happened when heat-killed S-cells along with living R-cells of Diplococcus pneumoniae were injected in mice?

• A. Mice survived and had live S-cells
• B. Mice survived and had dead R-cells
• C. Mice died and had dead R-cells
• D. Mice died and showed live S-cells
• E. Mice died and showed live R-cells

Answer 1

The correct option is D Mice died and showed live S-cells

Griffith's experiment was an experiment done in 1928 by Frederick Griffith. He performed experiments on two strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Diplococcus pneumoniae bacteria, a type III-S (smooth) which was virulent, and a type II-R (rough) strain which was nonvirulent. When mouse were infected with rough strain, they lived. When mouse were infected with smooth strain, they died. When mouse were infected with heat-killed smooth strain, they lived. However, when mouse were infected with rough strain and heat-killed smooth strain, they died. The experiment showed that bacteria are capable of transferring genetic information through a process known as transformation.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Mice died and showed live S-cells.'