Hershey-Chase Experiment — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptRadioactive phages were allowed to attach to E. coli bacteria. Then, as the infection proceeded, the viral coats were removed from the bacteria by agitating them in a blender. The virus particles were separated from the bacteria by spinning them in a centrifuge.
Arrange the following key steps of Hershey and Chase’s experiment in the correct chronological sequence: 1. Radioactive phages were allowed to infect E. coli bacteria. 2. Some viruses were grown in medium containing radioactive sulfur (³⁵S) → labeled proteins. 3. Some viruses were grown in medium containing radioactive phosphorus (³²P) → labeled DNA. 4. After infection, phage coats were removed by blending and separated by centrifugation. 5. Bacteria infected with ³²P-labeled phages became radioactive, showing DNA entered cells.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: B — 3 → 2 → 1 → 4 → 5
First, bacteriophages were labeled in two ways: with ³²P for DNA and with ³⁵S for protein. Then both types infected E. coli. Blending and centrifugation separated viral coats from bacteria. Radioactivity was detected only inside bacteria infected with ³²P-labeled DNA, proving DNA is the genetic material.
What does NCERT say about Radioactive phages were allowed?
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
Which chapter is this from?
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 88 of 90 questions from the NEET 2026 paper were matched straight from the MedicNEET Biology question bank.
88/90MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.