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 ( 32 P), and the phage protein was labeled with radioactive sulfur-35 ( 35 S). The amount of radioactive isotopes was observed in the infected bacterium.

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Chapter 14, Problem 2TYK

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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.

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Materials In order to determine the genetic material of a T2 phage, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted experiments using T2 phages that infected bacteria. In one treatment, they grew phages with radioactive sulfur. In another treatment, they grew phages with radioactive phosphorous. They allowed both types of phages to infect bacterial cells. After infection, they found that only bacteria infected with phages grown with radioactive phosphorous showed any radioactivity. Why did they use radioactive sulfur and phosphorous for this Updates Grades Members O Conferences DBQ Online experiment? * Newsela ormation O Sulfur is part of the DNA molecule but not part of a protein molecule. Biology Periods 1 and 2 Sulfur and phosphorous are some of the most reactive molecules and are easily ding periods school MP1, Highschool Highschool MP3, school MP4 traced. Sulfur and phosphorous are able to survive the centrifuge, a crucial component of the experiment. ion Phosphorous is part of the DNA…

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In Hershey-Chase experiment, bacteriophages protein coats were tagged with radioactive isotope S-32. These phages were used to infect E. coli cells and the cells were further centrifuged to form pellets. Why was the radioactivity level of S-32 found greater outside the cells compared to the E. coli cell pellets? Explain briefly. If the experiment is repeated in the same manner but this time the phage protein coats are labelled with isotope X and the phage DNA with isotope Y, which isotope’s radioactivity will be found in greater amounts in the E. coli cell pellets after centrifugation? Explain briefly.