High School

What is the significance of the experiments in which [tex]$^{32}\text{P}$[/tex] and [tex]$^{35}\text{S}$[/tex] were used?

A. The semiconservative nature of DNA replication was finally demonstrated.

B. It demonstrated that harmless bacterial cells had become permanently transformed through a change in the bacterial hereditary system.

C. It established that pure DNA extracted from disease-causing bacteria transformed harmless strains into killer strains.

D. It demonstrated that radioactively labeled bacteriophages transfer their DNA but not their protein coats to their host bacteria.

E. None of the above.

Answer :

Final answer:

The experiments using 32P and 35S proved that DNA, not proteins, is the genetic material. The isotopes labeled different components of bacteriophages, and after the phages infected bacterial cells, only the DNA (marked by 32P) was found within the cells, indicating DNA was the transferred genetic material.

Explanation:

The significance of the experiments using 32P and 35S is that they demonstrated that radioactively labeled bacteriophages transfer their DNA but not their protein coats to their host bacteria. This experiment was conducted by Hershey and Chase.

They allowed each isotope labeled phage to infect cells and then mechanically removed the phage coats via blending. Upon analysis, they found that 32P (which labeled DNA) was found within the cells whereas 35S (which labeled protein) was not, indicating that it was DNA, not protein, that was injected into the cells and was responsible for heredity. This experiment was pivotal in confirming DNA as the molecule responsible for heredity.

Learn more about DNA as genetic material here:

https://brainly.com/question/31431956

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