Hershey and Chase discovered that DNA, not protein, is the genetic material responsible for heredity. In their famous experiment with bacteriophages, they used radioactive labeling to distinguish between DNA and protein: they labeled DNA with phosphorus-32 and protein with sulfur-35. After allowing the viruses to infect bacteria, they found that only the radioactive DNA entered the bacterial cells, confirming that DNA carries the genetic instructions for the production of new viruses. This landmark discovery significantly advanced the understanding of genetics.
Hershey and Chase's experiment worked because they used radioactive labeling to track the DNA and protein separately. This allowed them to determine that only the DNA, not the protein, was passed on to the next generation of bacteria.
Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted the famous Hershey-Chase experiment in 1952, which confirmed that DNA, not protein, is the genetic material in bacteriophages. They used radioactive labeling to trace the genetic material within the bacteriophages, providing evidence for the role of DNA in heredity.
Hershey and Chase
Hershey and chase
Hershey and Chase discovered that after the P-labeled phages infected the bacteria, most of the radioactive phosphorus was found in the viral DNA, while little to no radioactive sulfur (used to label protein) was found. This confirmed that genetic material, not protein, is responsible for heredity in viruses.
According to my bio book, I think it's Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase, in the HERSHEY-CHASE experiment.
Hershey and Chase used radioactive sulfur-35 to tag phage proteins and radioactive phosphorus-32 to tag phage DNA in their experiments on bacteriophages.
Hershey and Chase observed that DNA is the identity of the hereditary material in phage T2. Hershey and Chase used radioactive labels to mark the protein of the bacteriaphage in one experiment and the DNA in another.
Hershey and Chase observed that DNA is the identity of the hereditary material in phage T2. Hershey and Chase used radioactive labels to mark the protein of the bacteriaphage in one experiment and the DNA in another.
Alfred Hershey and Margaret Chase confirmed that DNA is a genetic material.
Hershey and Chase labeled the viral DNA with radioactive phosphorus because DNA contains phosphorus in its backbone, while proteins contain sulfur in their amino acids. By using radioactive phosphorus, they could specifically track the DNA of the virus and determine whether it was the genetic material responsible for infection. In contrast, labeling with sulfur would have risked confusion, as it would track the viral proteins instead of the DNA. This choice was crucial for demonstrating that DNA, not protein, was the hereditary material in viruses.
According to my bio book, I think it's Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase, in the HERSHEY-CHASE experiment.