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What technique did Hershey and Chase use in their experiment that led to the conclusion that DNA, not protein, was the genetic material in viruses?

Sagot :

Answer:

They used radioactive labeling techniques to build two different types of phage.

Explanation:

In 1952, a set of experiments were carried out by American biochemists Alfred D. Hershey (1908-1997) and Martha Chase. They prepared two separate virus samples, one contained DNA labeled with a radioactive isotope and the other contained protein labeled with a different radioactive isotope. They grew the two types of viruses separately, infected bacteria with the two sets of phages and analyzed the bacteria for radioactivity. From the results obtained, Hershey and Chase concluded that the viral genetic material was DNA and not protein, reinforcing the observations previously made by Avery.