Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

14. DNA Synthesis

The Hershey-Chase Experiment

General Biology

14. DNA Synthesis

The Hershey-Chase Experiment

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0:48 minutes

Problem 5

Textbook Question

Scientists have discovered how to put together a bacteriophage with the protein coat of phage T2 and the DNA of phage lambda. If this composite phage were allowed to infect a bacterium, the phages produced in the host cell would have _________. (Explain your answer.)
a. The protein of T2 and the DNA of lambda
b. The protein of lambda and the DNA of T2
c. The protein and DNA of T2
d. The protein and DNA of lambda

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the structure of a bacteriophage. A bacteriophage is composed of two main components: a protein coat (capsid) and genetic material (DNA or RNA). The protein coat determines the physical structure and the ability to attach to host cells, while the genetic material carries the instructions for replication.

Step 2: Analyze the composite phage described in the problem. The composite phage has the protein coat of phage T2 and the DNA of phage lambda. This means the protein coat will dictate which bacterium the phage can infect, while the DNA will determine the genetic instructions for replication inside the host cell.

Step 3: Consider the infection process. When the composite phage infects a bacterium, the protein coat of T2 will facilitate attachment and injection of the genetic material into the host cell. However, the DNA of lambda will be the genetic material that is injected and used for replication.

Step 4: Predict the outcome of replication. Inside the host cell, the DNA of lambda will direct the synthesis of new phages. The genetic instructions from lambda DNA will specify the production of lambda proteins and lambda DNA, not T2 proteins or DNA.

Step 5: Conclude the answer. The phages produced in the host cell will have the protein and DNA of lambda because the genetic material (lambda DNA) determines the characteristics of the progeny phages.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Bacteriophage Structure

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. They consist of a protein coat, known as a capsid, which encases their genetic material, either DNA or RNA. In this scenario, the phage T2's protein coat is combined with the DNA from phage lambda, which is crucial for understanding how the resulting phages will express their characteristics.

Genetic Material and Protein Expression

The genetic material of a virus dictates the proteins that will be produced during infection. When a phage infects a bacterium, it injects its DNA, which hijacks the host's cellular machinery to produce new phage particles. Therefore, the DNA of the composite phage will determine the genetic instructions for the proteins synthesized in the host cell.

Phage Assembly and Characteristics

During the assembly of new phages within an infected bacterium, the proteins and DNA combine to form complete viral particles. In this case, since the protein coat is derived from T2 and the DNA from lambda, the resulting phages will exhibit the protein characteristics of T2 while carrying the genetic information of lambda. This distinction is essential for predicting the properties of the newly formed phages.

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Related Videos

Related Practice

Multiple Choice

A scientist assembles a bacteriophage with the protein coat of phage T2 and the DNA of phage T4. If this composite phage were allowed to infect a bacterium, the phages produced in the host cell would have __________.

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Multiple Choice

In an important experiment, a radioactively labeled bacteriophage was allowed to infect bacteria. In a first trial, the phage contained radioactive DNA, and radioactivity was detected inside the bacteria. Next, phage-containing radioactive protein was used, and the radioactivity was not detected inside the bacteria. These experiments led to the conclusion that __________.

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following considerations was/were important in the choice of viruses and bacteria for early experiments on DNA?

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Textbook Question

Researchers design experiments so that only one thing is different between the treatments that are being compared. In the Hershey–Chase experiment, what was this single difference?

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Textbook Question

The success of an experiment often depends on choosing an appropriate organism to study. For example, Gregor Mendel was able to deduce the fundamental principles in genetics in part because of his choice of the pea plant. Reviewing Module 10.1, how did Hershey and Chase take advantage of the unique structural properties of bacteriophage T2 to determine the genetic material?

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Multiple Choice

Who demonstrated that DNA is the genetic material of the T2 phage in the Hershey-Chase experiment?

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Multiple Choice

Hershey and Chase set out to determine what molecule served as the unit of inheritance. Which molecular component of the T2 virus actually ended up inside the cell?

Choose the incorrect statement about the results of the Hershey-Chase Experiment.

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