Question

Which of the following criteria should be fulfilled by a molecule to act as genetic material?
(i) It should be able to replicate.
(ii) It should be structurally and chemically stable.
(iii) It should undergo slow mutations.
(iv) It should be able to express itself in the form of 'Mendelian characters'

• A. (i) and (ii)
• B. (ii), (iii) and (iv)
• C. (i), (ii) and (iii)
• D. (i),(ii),(iii) and (iv)

Answer 1

The correct option is D (i),(ii),(iii) and (iv)

A molecule that can act as a genetic material should fulfil all the criteria which are mentioned in the question above.
DNA fulfils all the above criteria. Hence, DNA is the genetic material in most organisms.
RNA can also act as the genetic material, for example, in some viruses. It also fulfils the above criteria but it is structurally and chemically less stable than DNA and mutates at a faster rate due to which DNA is a better genetic material compared to RNA.