Infectious models using this bacterium form the classic prototype on which concepts of pathogenesis have evolved. Perhaps the most profound contribution arising from studies of the pneumococcus involved the discovery of bacterial transformation. The elucidation of the mechanism of transformation of pneumococcal types demonstrated that DNA was the transforming principle. After delayed acceptance the idea that DNA carried the hereditary information of the cell provided a foundation upon which the science for molecular genetics was based. Clearly, this is one old dog that keeps on learning new tricks.
All lectures last one hour, unless otherwise noted.