Question

The scientist awarded Nobel prize in 1959 for in vitro synthesis of polyribonucleotide was
a. Mendel
b. Calvin
c. Khorana
d. Ochoa

Answer 1

Kornberg has been considered to be a pioneer of genetic engineering, along with him Ochoa was scientists responsible for the artificial synthesis of DNA and RNA in vitro for the first time, and was awarded for the same.

**Complete answer :** Watson and crick in 1953 published about the double-helix model of DNA.
After this publication scientists, Ochoa and Kornberg got interested regarding the artificial synthesis of nucleic acids where they carried out experiments separately, after these experiments these 2 scientists isolated the enzymes which are useful to explain the mechanism of Synthesizing the DNA and RNA artificially.
Scientist Arthur Kornberg isolated the bacteria Escherichia coli is common friendly bacteria
present in the human intestine, where he isolated the enzyme DNA polymerase and used it to synthesize deoxyribonucleotides artificially.
At the same time Ochoa started isolating the enzyme polynucleotide phosphorylase from the bacteria Azotobacter vinelandii, and used to synthesis 4 RNA nucleotides artificially. So after the discovery of 2 enzymes by Ochoa and Kornberg which is responsible for the biosynthesis of RNA and DNA respectively. Where they were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1959.
So from the above explanation, the correct option is Ochoa.
Whereas other options Mendel had done a lot of research in the field of genetics and he is considered as the father of genetics.
Calvin was awarded the nobel prize for his research on carbon dioxide assimilation in photosynthesis of plants and for Melvin Calvin cycle.
Khorana was awarded the Nobel prize for his research on genetic code and its importance in protein synthesis.

Correct option: D. Ochoa

Note: Arthur Kornberg and Ochoa both are awarded Nobel prize together for in vitro synthesis of DNA and RNA, in vitro synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides by Kornberg the and polyribonucleotide by Ochoa. So it’s important to remember it separately and one should not confuse it in case if both options are given.