Question:

Which one of the following experiments by Griffith with Streptococcus pneumoniae, resulted in the death of mice due to pneumonia?

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Only live bacteria can cause disease, and live R cells were transformed by heat-killed S cells.
Updated On: Nov 12, 2026
  • Mice injected only with heat killed S strain.
  • Mice injected with live R strain and heat killed S strain.
  • Mice injected with heat killed R as well as S strains.
  • Mice injected only with heat killed R strain.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
In Griffith's experiment, S strain (capsulated) is virulent and R strain (no capsule) is harmless.

Step 2: Check each injection
Heat-killed S alone, killed R alone, or both killed together have no living cells, so the mice survive.

Step 3: The transforming mix
Live R plus heat-killed S: some R cells take up the transforming principle from S, become S type and kill the mice.

Final Answer:
Mice died after injection with live R strain and heat-killed S strain. \[ \boxed{\text{(B) }\text{Mice injected with live R strain and heat killed S strain.}} \]
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