264 CHAPTER 19 



REFERENCES 



Chargaff, E., and Davidson, J. N. (Eds.), The Nucleic Acids, 2 Vols., New York: 

 Academic Press, 1955; Vol. 3, New York: Academic Press, 1960. 



Davidson. J. N.. and C'ohn, W. E. (Eds.), Progress in Nucleic Acid Research, 2 Vols., 

 New York: Academic Press. 1963. 



Miescher. F.. "On the Chemical Composition of Pus Cells," translated in Great Experi- 

 ments in Biology, Gabriel, M. L., and S. Fogel (Eds.), Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: 

 Prentice-Hall. 1955. pp. 233-239. 



Potter. V. R.. Nucleic Acid Outlines, Vol. I. Minneapolis: Burgess Publ. Co., 1960. 



Steiner, R. F.. and Beers, R. F., Jr., Polynucleotides. Natural and Synthetic Nucleic- 

 Acids, Amsterdam: Elsevier Publ. Co., 1961. 



QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 



19.1. Is it simpler to postulate that DNA rather than protein constitutes the genetic 

 material? Why? 



19.2. What is the chemical distinction between: 



(a) a mononucleotide and a polynucleotide? 



(b) a nucleotide and a nucleoside? 



(c) a pyrimidine and a purine? 



(d) a ribose and a deoxyribose sugar? 



19.3. Draw the complete structural formula of a polyribotide having the base sequence 

 adenine, uracil, guanine, cytosine. 



19.4. Express thymine as a derivative of uracil. What part of the term deoxythymidine 

 is superfluous? Why? 



19.5. What evidence can you provide to support the view that viruses possess genetic 

 properties? 



19.6. How would you proceed to measure the absorbency of ultraviolet light by chro- 

 mosomal DNA? Chromosomal RNA? 



19.7. Do you believe that the evidence so far presented provides conclusive proof 

 that DNA is genetic material in chromosomes? Why? 



19.8. What is your opinion of the hypothesis that DNA is the chemical basis for re- 

 combination, but that protein is the chemical basis for gene function? 



19.9. Is DNA complex enough to serve as the chemical basis of gene action? Explain. 



19.10. Do you think the term chemon could be defined usefully? Justify your opinion. 



19.11. Discuss the similarities and the differences between DNA and RNA. 



