DNA is our genetic material!!!

STUDIES ON THE CHEMICAL NATURE OF THE SUBSTANCE INDUCING TRANSFORMATION OF PNEUMOCOCCAL TYPES : INDUCTION OF TRANSFORMATION BY A DESOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID FRACTION ISOLATED FROM PNEUMOCOCCUS TYPE III.

Avery OT, Macleod CM, McCarty M.

Abstract

1. From Type III pneumococci a biologically active fraction has been isolated in highly purified form which in exceedingly minute amounts is capable under appropriate cultural conditions of inducing the transformation of unencapsulated R variants of Pneumococcus Type II into fully encapsulated cells of the same specific type as that of the heat-killed microorganisms from which the inducing material was recovered. 2. Methods for the isolation and purification of the active transforming material are described. 3. The data obtained by chemical, enzymatic, and serological analyses together with the results of preliminary studies by electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, and ultraviolet spectroscopy indicate that, within the limits of the methods, the active fraction contains no demonstrable protein, unbound lipid, or serologically reactive polysaccharide and consists principally, if not solely, of a highly polymerized, viscous form of desoxyribonucleic acid. 4. Evidence is presented that the chemically induced alterations in cellular structure and function are predictable, type-specific, and transmissible in series. The various hypotheses that have been advanced concerning the nature of these changes are reviewed.

J Exp Med. 1944 Feb 1;79(2):137-58.

Why is this cool?

 I have posted a lot about DNA and it only recently occurred to me that I was blank on exactly when DNA was discovered to be our genetic material. This the paper that is credited with ending the debate. Also, notice that it took nine years before the structure of DNA was published after DNA was found to be the genetic material. Previously, people thought that our genetic material could be protein in nature! It seems silly now, but just imagine!

 You find yourself thrust into the world, you know nothing, how do you go about creating the current edifice of SCIENCE? Well, you do so incrementally. For this line of research, (it seems to me) you start with what are organisms made of: cells. Is there something heritable in those cells? Yes. What are those cells made of: proteins, lipids, DNA, RNA, and sugars. Which of those is important for passing along genetic information? Turns out that is it DNA.
 A line of research that I think will be seen in the future if not now, is using other molecules for genetic material in biological life! Creatures maybe could use steroids, estrogen, androgens as the units for the code! How would this change the resulting morphology? What about life with different necessary minerals? Total random thoughts, but I think a human with steroids as genetic material and selenium for maintaining osmotic pressure would probably look something like this: