Question

What did Hershey and Chase's experiment prove?

Answer 1

Hershey and Chase's experiment :

1. Hershey and Chase concluded that DNA was the genetic material and not protein.
2. The bacteriophage DNA that Hershey and Chase used was tagged with a radioactive isotope of phosphate. Phosphate forms an integral part of the nucleotides in DNA.
3. If proteins would be the genetic material, the radioactive phosphate wouldn't be found in the daughter cells, while they would show radioactivity if DNA was the genetic material.
4. The bacteriophages were allowed to replicate and the results showed radioactivity in the daughter cells.
5. Thus, it was proven that when bacteriophages, which are composed of DNA and protein, infect bacteria, their DNA enters the host bacterial cell, but most of their protein does not.
6. That DNA will replicate in the host and double its number.

Diagram representation of Hershey and Chase's experiment