Dna

[rx8man88]

Briefly describe the experiments which led to the knowledge that DNA is the genetic material.

[moleculardude]

Hey Rx9man88,

DNA was shown to be the genetic material in several studies including:

http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/res...Chp1_4_1.shtml


1952, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase tagged the protein coating of bacteriophages with radioactive 35-S and the DNA core with the phosphorus isotope P-32. Using a Waring blender, the blender caused the viruses to shear off the outside of the bacteria: The tagged protein coat segregated to the supernatant layer of the solution, while the labeled DNA lodged inside the viral sediment layer. Most of the viral DNA entered the bacterial cell, while most of the viral protein remained outside.



Hershey AD, Chase MC: "Independent functions of viral protein and nucleic acid in growth of bacteriophage.
J Gen Physiol 1952, 36:39-56.