In the Transformation experiment performed by Griffith two s

In the Transformation experiment performed by Griffith, two strains of Pneumococcus bacteria were studied to determine their ability to cause disease and death in mice. What would have happened if both the R and the S strain bacteria were killed by heat and injected into the mice?

A. The mice would get sick and die, and live S strain bacteria would be recovered from the dead mice.

B. The mice would be healthy and alive, and live S strain bacteria would be recovered from the live mice.

C. The mice would be healthy and alive, and no Pneumococcus bacteria would be recovered from the live mice.

D. The mice would be healthy and alive, and live R strain bacteria would be recovered from the live mice.

E. The mice would get sick and die, and live R strain bacteria would be recovered from the dead mice.

Solution

Option C.

When both S and R strain bacteria were killed and injected to mice, no disease observed in the mice. No transformation occurs since both bacteria were killed. And no living bacteria recovered from the healthy mice.

If S Strain is heat killed and combined with alive R strain, R Strain is transformed into S strain and causes disease in mice. And live s strain bacteria can be recovered from diseased mice.