If E. coli having heavy DNA was allowed to grow for 80 minutes on a medium containing 14NH4Cl then what would be the proportions of light and hybrid densities DNA molecule?
80minutes= 80/20= 4 generations
Initially DNA contain 15N15N
Then it is placed in a medium containing 14N for 3 generation.
After 1st generation:
15N15N→ 15N14N 15N14N (2 Hybrid DNA molecules)
After 2nd generation
15N14N 15N14N → 15N14N 14N14N 15N14N 14N14N (2 light DNA and 2 Hybrid DNA molecules)
After 3rd generation:
15N14N 14N14N 15N14N 14N14N → 15N14N 14N14N 14N14N 14N14N 15N14N 14N14N 14N14N 14N14N (6 light DNA and 2 hybrid DNA molecules)
After 4th generation
2(15N14N) → 2 (15N14N 14N14N)
6(14N14N) → 6 (14N14N 14N14N)
Total no. of light DNA= 14
Total no. of Hybrid DNA= 2
% of light DNA= 87.5%
% of light DNA= 12.5%