In the Hershey-Chase experiment,bacterial viruses,called phage,were used to demonstrate that DNA is the genetic material.The phage that were used for this experiment consisted of DNA surrounded by a protein coat.Phage will attach to specific types of bacteria and inject their DNA into the bacterial cell.To scientifically determine whether DNA is the genetic material,Hershey and Chase made phage in a medium containing radioactive sulfur-35 (S³⁵).Why was S³⁵ used in this experiment? A)Only amino acids contain sulfur. B)Only nucleic acids contain sulfur. C)Both nucleic acids and amino acids contain sulfur. D)The radioactive sulfur labels peptide bonds.

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Only amino acids contain sulfur, not nucleic acids. Therefore, using radioactive sulfur-35 allowed Hershey and Chase to label the protein coat of the phage without labeling the DNA within. They could then observe which component (DNA or protein) was transferred from the phage into the bacterial cell during infection, and determine which one was responsible for the genetic material.

In the Hershey-Chase Experiment,bacterial Viruses,called Phage,were Used to Demonstrate That