This
conclusion
cannot
be
accepted
without
a
very
careful
criticism
of
the
experi-
mental
conditions
and
procedures
previously
described
and
a
series
of
alternative
explanations
of
the
obtained
results
must
be
considered.
First
of
all,
we
must
ask
if
the
neutralization
of
the
solution
actually
stops
any
denaturation
or
renaturation
process
of
the
DNA
molecules.
Although
it
is
generally
assumed
that
half
denatured
molecules
rewind
themselves
completely
when
neutral
pH
is
re-established,
no
direct
demonstration
of
this
phenomenon
exists.
It
seems
herefore
legitimate
to
wonder
whether
under
our
conditions
the
effect
of
a
very
rapid
neutralization
is
not
more
likely
to
be
the
formation
of,
imperfectly
paired,
short
sequences.
Such
an
effect
would
hinder
rather
than
favour
ordered
rewinding