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DNA as Genetic Material - Hershey And Chase Experiment MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers

Edited By admin | Updated on Sep 18, 2023 18:34 AM | #NEET

Quick Facts

  • Hershey & Chase Experiment is considered one of the most asked concept.

  • 11 Questions around this concept.

Solve by difficulty

The unequivocal proof of DNA as the genetic material came from the studies on a

 In Hershey Chase experiment, protein tagging was done by
 

To prove that DNA is the genetic material, which radioactive isotopes were used by Hershey and Chase (1952) in their experiments?

 

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In experiment done by Hershey and Chase on radioactive phase, the correct order is 



 

If the DNA of a virus is labelled with 32P and the protein of the virus is labelled with 35S, after transduction
which molecule(s) would be present inside the bacterial cells?

 

Concepts Covered - 1

Hershey & Chase Experiment
  • The proof for DNA as a genetic material came from the experiment performed by Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase (1952). 
  • They carried out some experiments with the viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses are called bacteriophages.
  • The bacteriophage attaches to the bacteria and its genetic material then enters the bacterial cell. 
  • The bacterial cell treats the viral genetic material as if it was its own and subsequently manufactures more virus particles. 
  • Hershey and Chase worked to discover whether it was protein or DNA from the viruses that entered the bacteria.
  • For this, they took two separate media for growing these bacteriophages.
  • Out of two, one medium contained radioactive phosphorus and the other medium contained radioactive sulphur. 
  • Viruses (bacteriophage) were then grown on each medium.
  • The viruses grown in the presence of radioactive phosphorus (32P) contained radioactive DNA (but not radioactive protein). This is because DNA contains phosphorus not protein.
  • In the same way, the viruses grown in the medium containing radioactive sulphur (35S) now contained radioactive protein (not radioactive DNA). This is because DNA does not contain sulphur.
  • These radioactive viruses (bacteriophages) were then allowed to attach to bacteria (E. coli). 
  • As the process of infection with virus continued, the bacteria were agitated in a blender and the viral coats of the bacteria were removed.
  • The virus particles were separated from the bacteria by spinning them in a centrifuge.
  • Bacteria which were infected with viruses that had radioactive DNA were radioactive, indicating that DNA was the material that passed from the virus to the bacteria. 
  • Bacteria that were infected with viruses that had radioactive proteins were not radioactive. 
  • This indicates that proteins did not enter the bacteria from the viruses. 
  • DNA is, therefore, the genetic material that is passed from virus to bacteria

 

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Hershey & Chase Experiment

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Hershey & Chase Experiment

Biology Textbook for Class XII

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