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In 1940, Beadle and Tatum developed the one gene–one protein hypothesis - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 8 - 2001 - Paper 1
Question 8
In 1940, Beadle and Tatum developed the one gene–one protein hypothesis. This has now been modified to the one gene–one polypeptide hypothesis. Why was this modifi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In 1940, Beadle and Tatum developed the one gene–one protein hypothesis - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 8 - 2001 - Paper 1
Step 1
Why was this modification needed?
Answer
The modification from the one gene–one protein hypothesis to the one gene–one polypeptide hypothesis was needed because many proteins are composed of multiple polypeptides, which can either be identical or different. This means that a single gene can dictate the production of more than one type of polypeptide, which is crucial for the complexity and functionality of many proteins.
Therefore, option (C) is the correct answer: 'Many proteins are comprised of more than one polypeptide that may be the same or different.'