Explain how the Hershey and Chase experiment identified ...

Question

Explain how the Hershey and Chase experiment identified DNA as the hereditary molecule.

Accepted Answer

Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together to demonstrate that DNA is the genetic material, Hershey and Chase conducted experiments using the bacteria, E coli and bacteria phage T two. Which of the following assertions accurately reflects the outcome of their experiment. Is it answer choice. A, the E coli infected by T two phage which had radioactive DNA and radioactive protein coat were not radioactive. Answer choice B the E coli infected by T two phage which had radioactive DNA and radioactive protein coat were radioactive. Answer choice. C only the bacteria that had been infected by the virus with the radioactive protein coat were radioactive or answer choice. D only the bacteria that had been infected by the virus with radioactive DNA were radioactive. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following assertions accurately reflects the outcome of Hershey and Chase's experiment. So we know that the experiment conducted by both Hershey and Chase used E coli and the bacteriophage T two, which this bacteriophage was cultured in two distinct medias which were one containing radioactive phosphorus known as 32 P and the other containing radioactive sulfur which was 35 S. And after the bacteria, phage was cultured in these two medias, they allowed it to infect the E coli in order to examine the samples for that radioactive activity. And so after infection by the T two page, they learned that the bacteria was radioactive when infected by the 32 p infections. And it was not radioactive when infected bye the 35 S infections. And so Hershey and Chase found this interesting because the P, which we know was that radioactive phosphorus having phosphorus, which is a component of the nucleotides that make up the nucleic acid compared to that 35 S which we know the acid, sulfur and sulfur being a component of the amino acids, methionine and cystine. So by learning that the bacteria was radioactive when infected by the radioactive phosphorus, they were able to determine that DNA is the genetic material. And they also determined only the bacteria that had been infected by the virus with radioactive DNA were radioactive. Making answer choice d the correct answer since her and Chase's experiment in which they use the bacteria E coli and the bacteria phage T two where they cultured that bacteriophage in those two distinct medias, radioactive phosphorus in the radioactive sulfur. They learned that after the infection of the E coli by that infected virus of the T two P page, they learned that the bacteria was radioactive when infected by only the 32 P which is that radioactive phosphorus. And not when it was infected and not when it was infected by that 35 S which is the radioactive sulfur. And so they learn that DNA is the genetic material and that only the bacteria that was infected by the virus with the radioactive DNA we radioactive. Making answer. Choice. D the only correct answer. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.

Explain how the Hershey and Chase experiment identified DNA as the hereditary molecule.

Key Concepts

Hershey and Chase Experiment

Bacteriophages

Radioactive Labeling

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