describe the experiment that proved that DNA is the genetic material
Answers
Answer:
The Hershey-Chase experiment, which demonstrated that the genetic material of phage is DNA, not protein. The experiment uses two sets of T2 bacteriophages. ... Clearly, the genetic material must have both the ability to encode specific information and the capacity to duplicate that information precisely.
Answer:
ANSWER
(1) Hershey and Chase performed their experiments with bacterium E. coli and bacteriophage T2.
(2) The bacteriophage which has a DNA and a protein coat attaches to the bacteria and transfers its genetic material into the bacterial cell.
(3) Some T2 phages were grown in medium with radioactive, sulphur (35S) and the other T2 phages were grown in a medium with radioactive phosphorous (32P).
(4) The T2 in (35S) medium contained radioactive protein because the DNA does not contain sulphur whereas the T2 phages in (32P) medium contained radioactive DNA because the protein coat does not contain phosphorus.
(5) The radioactive phages then attached to the E.coli. After the infection progressed, the viruses were separated by centrifugation.
(6) The E.coli infected by T2 phage which had radioactive DNA were also radioactive, indicating that DNA was the material that passed from the virus to the bacteria.
(7) The bacteria that had been infected by the virus with a radioactive protein coat was not radioactive i.e., the protein had not entered the bacteria thus proving that DNA was the genetic material that is passed from a virus to a bacteria.