Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase examined transformation using bacteriophage (bacterial DNA virus)and bacterial cells.If phage are labeled with radioactive sulfur and allowed to infect bacterial cells,the radioactive sulfur will be localized to:
A)the inside of infected cells (in phage DNA).
B)the outside of infected cells (in phage ghosts).
C)in newly synthesized phage viruses in the host bacterial cell.
D)No radioactivity will remain after infection.
E)The sulfur will be metabolically consumed,and therefore the radioactivity will be destroyed.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the phage are labeled with radioactive sulfur, the radioactivity will be localized to the outside of infected bacterial cells (in phage ghosts) as the phage protein coat contains sulfur but the bacterial cells do not. Therefore, option B is the correct choice. The other options are not valid because the radioactive sulfur will either be inside the phage or will be destroyed/metabolized during infection.

Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase Examined Transformation Using Bacteriophage (Bacterial