In 1952, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted an experiment about bacteriophage reproduction. They inserted a phosphorous isotope (^32P) into the bacteriophages' DNA, and a sulfur isotope (^35S) into a protein in the bacteriophages' capsids. Hershey and Chase then infected bacteria with the bacteriophages. After infection, they put the bacteria in a blender to separate the cells from the extracellular matter. They measured the percentage of isotopes that remained in the extracellular matter.
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which characteristic is present in the bacteria but absent in the bacteriophages?
A. ability to evolve
B. presence of glycoproteins
C. ability to develop gene mutations
D. presence of metabolic pathways
1 answer
D. presence of metabolic pathways
1 answer