The Hershey/Chase experiments in 1952 use bacteriophages to study what?

• A. The codon code
• B. Whether DNA or protein was the genetic material
• C. How DNA was replicated
• D. How bacteriophages caused cell death

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the Hershey-Chase experiments: In 1952, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted experiments to determine whether DNA or protein was the genetic material responsible for heredity.
2. Recognize the experimental subjects: They used bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, specifically the T2 phage, to conduct their experiments.
3. Identify the key components of the experiment: The bacteriophages were labeled with radioactive isotopes, sulfur-35 to label proteins and phosphorus-32 to label DNA, as proteins contain sulfur but not phosphorus, and DNA contains phosphorus but not sulfur.
4. Analyze the experimental procedure: The labeled bacteriophages were allowed to infect E. coli bacteria. After infection, the mixture was agitated in a blender to separate the phage protein coats from the bacterial cells.
5. Interpret the results: By measuring the radioactivity in the bacterial cells and the surrounding medium, Hershey and Chase concluded that DNA, not protein, entered the bacterial cells and directed the production of new phages, thus identifying DNA as the genetic material.