Question

Which of the following statements best represents the central conclusion of the Hershey-Chase experiments?

A. Phage T2 is capable of replicating within a bacterial host.
B. DNA is the identity of the hereditary material in phage T2.
C. Some viruses can infect bacteria.
D. When radioactive sulfur is supplied in a growth medium, it is primarily DNA that incorporates radioactive label.

Answer 1

B. DNA is the identity of the hereditary material in phage T2 represents the central conclusion of the Hershey-Chase experiments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Hershey-Chase experiments aimed to determine whether DNA or protein is the hereditary material in bacteriophage T2. They used radioactive isotopes (32P for DNA and 35S for protein) to label the viral components. The key observation was that only DNA, not protein, entered the bacterial cells during infection, leading to the conclusion that DNA is the genetic material.

Option B accurately represents the central conclusion of the Hershey-Chase experiments, highlighting the role of DNA as the carrier of genetic information. This groundbreaking finding had significant implications for understanding the nature of heredity and laid the foundation for molecular biology.

Option B is the answer.