In the classic experiment with mice, Griffith first discovered that bacteria can acquire new genes during their lifetime. a. True
b. False

True

Transformation is the process through which bacteria acquire new genes.These new genes are the genetic information that the bacteria transfer from one to another.

Griffth based his discorvery on the development of Vaccine for pnuemonia.He made use of two strains of the bacteria.The non-virulent II-R strain and the virulent III -R  strain.

He killed the III -R strain by exposing the bacteria to heat radiation.Then  added them  to the non-virulent III bacteria strain.(note non of these is pathogenic to the mice-host).

However,when the mixture was injected into the mouse,it was realized that the host developed pneumonia. He isolated the two strains of bacteria  from the host.

Therefore,if the II-strain was non virulent when injected into the host and the virulent III-strain has been deadened,definitely the virulence of III-strain must have  transformed the non virulent II  to  make it lethal and therefore   cause pneumococcal  in the host.

This virulent characteristic were confined in the DNA of the lethal III -strain,and were transformed to the non virulent II-strain to become virulent.

fertilization, pictured in figure 24.23a is the process in which gametes (an egg and sperm) fuse to form a zygote. the egg and sperm each contain one set of chromosomes. to ensure that the offspring has only one complete diploid set of chromosomes, only one sperm must fuse with one egg. in mammals, the egg is protected by a layer of extracellular matrix consisting mainly of glycoproteins called the zona pellucida. when a sperm binds to the zona pellucida, a series of biochemical events, called the acrosomal reactions, take place. in placental mammals, the acrosome contains digestive enzymes that initiate the degradation of the glycoprotein matrix protecting the egg and allowing the sperm plasma membrane to fuse with the egg plasma membrane, as illustrated in figure 24.23b. the fusion of these two membranes creates an opening through which the sperm nucleus is transferred into the ovum. the nuclear membranes of the egg and sperm break down and the two haploid genomes condense to form a diploid genome.

explanation: