Figure 13.4 The Hershe
Original Paper: Hershey, A. D. and M. Chase. 1952. Independent functions of viral protein and nucleic acid in growth of bacteriophage. The Journal of General Physiology 36: 3
When Hershey and Chase infected bacterial cells with radioactively labeled T2 bacteriophage, only labeled DNA was found in the bacteria. The infected cells were agitated to remove the viral coats from the bacteria and were then centrifuged to pellet the bacteria. The labeled protein remained in the supernatant. This showed that DNA, not protein, is the genetic material.