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vislocka25 vislocka25
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7 years ago
Experimental prediction: Predicting the results after additional rounds of replication
To confirm the semiconservative model of replication, it was important for Meselson and Stahl to quantify the amount of DNA in each band produced by density-gradient centrifugation. To accomplish this, they took advantage of the fact that DNA absorbs ultraviolet light, and used UV light to photograph each tube.
By scanning the UV photographs with a microdensitometer, graphs like the ones below were produced. The height of each peak in the graph is directly proportional to the concentration of DNA in the corresponding band. Also, the position of each peak reflects the 14N and 15N content of the band.

Suppose that the scientists analyzed the same amount of DNA (10 units) by density-gradient centrifugation after two, three, and four rounds of replication in 14N medium. What would you predict the microdensitometer graph would look like after each round?
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7 years ago
Meselson and Stahl began their experiment with DNA that was all 15N.

They showed that replication occurs through the semi-conservative method meaning that after 1 round of division the double stranded DNA would consist of one 15N strand and one 14N strand (a hybrid).

Since the bacteria are growing in a 14N medium over time the ratio of 14N:15N increases. But the 15N DNA strands will always be associated with a 14N strand - there will always be hybrid strands around.

Therefore the microdensitometer graph would always have 2 peaks: 1 for the hybrid (14N/15N) and one for the lighter DNA (14N/14N) but over time the peak for the lighter DNA would increase while the peak for the hybrid would decrease.
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