Final answer:
Hershey and Chase conducted experiments that confirmed that DNA is the genetic material, not proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hershey and Chase contributed to the discovery of DNA by conducting experiments with viruses and bacteria in the 1950s. They used different radioactive elements to label the DNA and proteins in viruses, which allowed them to identify that DNA is the genetic material.
Their experiments confirmed that DNA, not proteins, carried the genetic information. This discovery was significant in establishing DNA as the hereditary material and paved the way for advancements in molecular biology and biotechnology.