Question

Which property among these listed below is not a criterion for a molecule to act as a genetic material?

• A. Generate its replica
• B. Chemically and structurally stable
• C. Mutate slowly to facilitate evolution
• D. Express itself in the form of Mendelian characters
• E. Destroy itself after every cell cycle

Answer 1

The correct option is E Destroy itself after every cell cycle

For a molecule to act as a genetic material, it needs to be able to replicate itself in order to propagate the genetic material. It should be stable in order to not undergo drastic changes that could destabilise the organism. It should be able to undergo mutation in order to facilitate the evolutionary process. Hence these options are correct.
The property of a molecule to destroy itself after each cell cycle, i.e. it undergoes apoptosis, is not a criterion for a molecule to be a genetic material. With each cell cycle, the molecule should be able to replicate instead of destroying itself and produce its copies, thereby transferring characters to each daughter cells.