M.E.

S INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA - QATAR

Notes 2020 - 2021

Section : BOYS AND GIRLS Date: 13.09.2020

Class & Div. : XII (ALL DIVISIONS) Subject: BIOLOGY
Lesson / Topic: CHAPTER 6. MOLECULAR BASIS OF INHERITANCE. NOTE II.
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THE GENETIC MATERIAL IS DNA: HERSHEY-CHASE EXPERIMENT:

i.The experimental proof that DNA is the genetic material came from the experiments
of ALFRED HERSHEY & MARTHA CHASE (1952).

ii.They worked with viruses that infect bacteria called bacteriophages.

iii.They grew some viruses on a medium containing radioactive phosphorus ( P32)

and some on radioactive sulphur ( S35 ).

iv.Then they were allowed to infect E.coli bacteria.

v.Soon after infection ,the cultures were gently agitated in a blender to separate the viral
coat from the bacterial cell. Bacteriphage only injects its DNA into the host or bacterial
cell.

vi. the cultures were then centrifuged . The heavier bacteria settled down in the form of
pellet. The supernatant contains viral coats which do not enter the bacterial cells.

vii.It was found that in bacteriophage labelled with S35,radioactivity was detected in
supernatant but not in bacterial cells.

viii.In the second culture where bacteriophage labeled with P32 , it was found that
radioactivity detected in bacterial cells not in supernatant.

ix. This indicates that proteins did not enter the bacteria from the viruses.

x. DNA is therefore the genetic material that is passed from virus to bacteria.

F 061, Rev 01, dtd 10th March 2020