Which enzymes did Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty use in their experiments to identify DNA as the genetic material?

• A. Topoisomerase, RNase, and Kinase
• B. Ligase, Polymerase, and Helicase
• C. Amylase, Lipase, and DNase
• D. Protease, RNase, and DNase

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the goal of Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty's experiment: to identify which molecule (DNA, RNA, or protein) is the genetic material responsible for transformation in bacteria.
2. Recall that they used specific enzymes to selectively destroy one type of molecule at a time in the bacterial extract: Protease to degrade proteins, RNase to degrade RNA, and DNase to degrade DNA.
3. Note that by treating the extract with Protease and RNase, transformation still occurred, indicating that proteins and RNA were not responsible for genetic transformation.
4. Observe that when DNase was used to destroy DNA, transformation did not occur, demonstrating that DNA is the molecule carrying genetic information.
5. Conclude that the key enzymes used in their experiment were Protease, RNase, and DNase, which allowed them to pinpoint DNA as the genetic material.