Answer :
In 1868, Johan Friedrich Miescher, a Swiss biochemist, discovered a substance in the nuclei of white blood cells which he named 'nuclein'. This discovery was fundamental because it was one of the earliest identifications of what we now understand to be DNA.
Properties of Nuclein:
Acidic Nature: Nuclein was found to be acidic in nature. This characteristic is due to the presence of phosphate groups, which give a negative charge to the molecule.
Contains Nitrogen and Phosphorous: Nuclein is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous. These elements are essential components of the nucleotides that make up DNA.
Given these properties, the correct answer to the question identifying the characteristics of nuclein is (D) acidic, containing nitrogen and phosphorous.
Miescher's work laid the groundwork for understanding that DNA is the carrier of genetic information, a discovery that profoundly shaped the field of genetics and molecular biology.
