Select the Statements That are True About the Hershey-Chase Experiments

Question

Select the statements that are true about the Hershey-Chase experiments.
A) They radioactively labeled the protein coat of the bacteriophage with ³⁵S.
B) They radioactively labeled the DNA of the bacteriophage with ³²P.
C) The results of the experiment indicated only the presence of ³⁵S in the cell.
D) The results suggested that DNA was the genetic material.

Accepted Answer

The Hershey-Chase experiments used ³⁵S to label the protein coat and ³²P to label the DNA of bacteriophages. The results showed that only the ³²P entered the bacterial cells, indicating that DNA, not protein, was the genetic material.