Nucleic Acid Synthesis in the Chloroplasts of Acetabularia mediterranea

Radioautographic and radiochemical techniques were used to establish the presence of replicating DNA in the chloroplasts of Acetabularia mediterranea. These techniques also demonstrated that these chloroplasts synthesize RNA. It was found that label from thymine was also incorporated into DNA and RNA in these chloroplasts. With the establishment of protein and nucleic acid synthesis in Acetabularia chloroplasts, it is clear that these chloroplasts carry out those metabolic processes which are most characteristic of autonomous cells.