2023 Manipur Molecular Basis of InheritanceHershey-Chase experiment - radioactive labelling Medium Question 39 of 200 in Molecular Basis of Inheritance

With reference to Hershey and Chase experiments. Select the correct statements. (A) Viruses grown in the presence of radioactive phosphorus contained radioactive DNA. (B) Viruses grown on radioactive sulphur contained radioactive proteins. (C) Viruses grown on radioactive phosphorus contained radioactive protein. (D) Viruses grown on radioactive sulphur contained radioactive DNA. (E) Viruses grown on radioactive protein contained radioactive DNA. Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

A (D) and (E) only
B (A) and (B) only
C (A) and (C) only
D (B) and (D) only

The answer is B.

Solution

Since DNA contains phosphorus and proteins contain sulphur, viruses grown with radioactive phosphorus ($^{32}P$) incorporated it into their DNA (A is correct), while viruses grown with radioactive sulphur ($^{35}S$) incorporated it into their proteins (B is correct). Statements C and D, which claim the opposite (P-labelled protein, S-labelled DNA), are incorrect, since phosphorus is absent from proteins and sulphur is absent from DNA.

Concept Hershey-Chase experiment - radioactive labelling

Molecular Basis of Inheritance in past papers

200 questions from this chapter have appeared across 27 exam years.