Question

In the classic experiment conducted by Hershey and Chase, why was the pellet radioactive in the centrifuge tube that contained bacteria with viruses?

A. The bacteria were in the pellet, and many contained the radioactive viral DNA.
B. The bacteria were in the pellet, and they had incorporated radioactive proteins into their cell membranes.
C. The radioactive protein coats of the viruses were in the pellet.
D. The radioactive viruses (coats plus DNA) were in the pellet.
E. The radioactive viruses were in the pellet, and the bacteria were in the supernatant.

Answer 1

Hershey and Chase conducted a series of experiments in order to prove that DNA is the genetic material.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this experiment, sulphur-35 and phosphorous-32 were used to radioactively label protein and DNA respectively. The bacteriophage (viruses that infects the bacteria) were allowed to infect the E. coli and it was found that bacterial pellets contains P-32 in their DNA and not S-35. This indicates suphur is not found in DNA, it is present in protein. This experiments proves that DNA is the genetic material and not protein.

So, the correct option is A.