MHT CET Medical202621 April 2026Morning ShiftBiologyMolecular Basis of InheritanceActual
Hershey-Chase performed an experiment on------------------.
Options
- AEscherichia coli
- BStreptococcus pneumoniae
- CBacteriophages
- DSalmonella typhi
Correct answer
C. Bacteriophages
Step-by-step solution
The unequivocal proof that DNA is the genetic material came from the experiments of Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase in 1952. They worked with viruses that infect bacteria, which are called bacteriophages (specifically the T2 bacteriophage). In their experiment, they used radioactive isotopes of phosphorus ( ³² P ) and sulfur ( ³⁵ S ) to label the DNA and protein coat of the bacteriophages, respectively, to determine which of these molecules enters the bacterial cell ( Escherichia coli ) during infection. Answer: Ba