“How Do We Know that DNA Is Hereditary Material?”
DNA is hereditary in practically all life-forms, but how do we know this? Hereditary material is inherited or passed down genes from a parent to their offspring. Researchers have partaken in several experiments to provide evidence that show this to be true. These experiments give the background on how scientists came to the conclusion and world known fact that DNA is in fact hereditary.
For example, the first known experiment leading up to the idea that DNA is hereditary material was done by Frederick Griffith who proposed the idea the bacteria can undergo transformation. Griffith was originally trying to find a vaccine to treat pneumonia, which was greatly influencing the population during the early 1930’s and late …show more content…
Hershey and Chase put bacteria through multiple heating process to see how it would react with the phage. From doing this they discovered protein coats that protect the DNA, and found that the DNA was not absorbed to the phage bacteria. They then experimented with the process of thawing and freezing the bacteriophage and discovered that the DNA is more sensitive to the DNAse when no growth is taking place. Hershey and Chase then, proceeding in the direction of infecting cells, used the blender experiment to suspend these infected cells. From this test, they determine that DNA accesses the cell directly after the phage adsorption. Hershey and Chase suggest that DNA plays a role in the forming of phage growth (whereas they state that the protein has no responsibility for the growth of the phage), since the temperature changes do not release any of the phage DNA from the cell that is infected. In conclusion, Hershey and Chase provide the idea that DNA does in fact have something to do with the inferences taken from the results of this
DNA is hereditary in practically all life-forms, but how do we know this? Hereditary material is inherited or passed down genes from a parent to their offspring. Researchers have partaken in several experiments to provide evidence that show this to be true. These experiments give the background on how scientists came to the conclusion and world known fact that DNA is in fact hereditary.
For example, the first known experiment leading up to the idea that DNA is hereditary material was done by Frederick Griffith who proposed the idea the bacteria can undergo transformation. Griffith was originally trying to find a vaccine to treat pneumonia, which was greatly influencing the population during the early 1930’s and late …show more content…
Hershey and Chase put bacteria through multiple heating process to see how it would react with the phage. From doing this they discovered protein coats that protect the DNA, and found that the DNA was not absorbed to the phage bacteria. They then experimented with the process of thawing and freezing the bacteriophage and discovered that the DNA is more sensitive to the DNAse when no growth is taking place. Hershey and Chase then, proceeding in the direction of infecting cells, used the blender experiment to suspend these infected cells. From this test, they determine that DNA accesses the cell directly after the phage adsorption. Hershey and Chase suggest that DNA plays a role in the forming of phage growth (whereas they state that the protein has no responsibility for the growth of the phage), since the temperature changes do not release any of the phage DNA from the cell that is infected. In conclusion, Hershey and Chase provide the idea that DNA does in fact have something to do with the inferences taken from the results of this