Beadle and Tatum

Definition

Beadle and Tatum were geneticists who demonstrated that genes control the production of specific enzymes. Their experiments with the bread mold Neurospora crassa established the one gene-one enzyme hypothesis.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Beadle and Tatum used Neurospora crassa, a type of bread mold, in their experiments.
2. They exposed the mold to X-rays to induce mutations and then observed metabolic changes.
3. Their work laid the foundation for understanding that genes encode proteins, which perform cellular functions.
4. The one gene-one enzyme hypothesis they proposed was later refined to one gene-one polypeptide hypothesis.
5. In 1958, Beadle and Tatum shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery.

Review Questions

Related terms

One Gene-One Enzyme Hypothesis: A theory proposing that each gene directly produces a single enzyme.

Neurospora crassa:

A type of red bread mold used by Beadle and Tatum in genetic research.

Mutagenesis:

The process of inducing mutations, often through exposure to radiation or chemicals.