Question

Hargobind Khorana is known for his experiments based on which of the following?
A. Discovery of DNA structure
B. Synthesis of protein
C. Artificial genes
D. Discovery of tRNA

Answer 1

Hargobind Khorana was an Indian-born American biochemist who won the nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine in the year 1968 along with Marshall Warren Nirenberg and Robert William Holley.

Complete Answer:
Let us look at each option one by one
Option A: The structure of DNA was discovered by two scientists James Watson and Francis Crick in the year 1953. And they were awarded a nobel prize for the same in 1962. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Option B: The process of protein synthesis is performed by the ribosomes and this discovery was made by George E. Palade and other scientists who were awarded a nobel prize for the same in the year 1974. Therefore this option is incorrect.

Option C: The first artificial gene, a synthetic yeast tRNA was synthesized by the Indian-American biochemist Hargobind Khorana and his associates in 1972. Therefore, this is the correct option.

Option D: The existence of the tRNA was hypothesized by Francis Crick and it was discovered by Paul C Zamecnik and Mahlon Hoagland in 1958. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Thus, the correct answer is (C) Artificial genes.

Note: The nobel prize won by Hargobind Khorana in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 was for the discovery of the genetic code responsible for the translation of mRNA into protein.