Question

what material did hershey and chase prove to be the transformative factor during their experiments? proteins viruses dna

Explanation:

Hershey and Chase conducted experiments using bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria). They labeled the DNA of the phages with radioactive phosphorus (\(^{32}\)P) and the proteins with radioactive sulfur (\(^{35}\)S). When the phages infected the bacteria, most of the \(^{32}\)P (associated with DNA) entered the bacterial cells, while the \(^{35}\)S (associated with proteins) remained outside. This showed that DNA, not proteins, was the genetic material (transformative factor) being transferred into the bacteria to direct the production of new phages. Viruses are not the transformative factor in this context; they are the experimental organisms used.

Answer:

DNA