Chapter 14, Problem 2TYK

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Hershey and Chase carried a series of experiments to show that DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material. Earlier biologists believed that proteins are the genetic material. In this experiment, a bacteriophage T2 phage was used to infect a bacterium. The phage DNA was labeled with radioactive phosphorus-32 (³²P), and the phage protein was labeled with radioactive sulfur-35 (³⁵S). The amount of radioactive isotopes was observed in the infected bacterium.