Discovery of DNA
The discovery of DNA’s role as the genetic material transferring from generation to generation was confirmed by Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase’s 1952 experiment using bacteriophages.
- Working with bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, they aimed to determine whether DNA or protein carried the hereditary information.
- Using radioactive phosphorus and sulfur, they labeled viral DNA and protein separately and observed their transmission to bacterial cells.
- Bacteria infected with viruses containing radioactive DNA became radioactive, confirming that DNA was the material transferred from the virus.
- Conversely, bacteria infected with viruses containing radioactive protein did not exhibit radioactivity, establishing DNA as the genetic material.
- This pivotal experiment clarified that DNA, not protein, is the carrier of genetic information during the transfer from viruses to bacteria.
Why is DNA Negatively Charged?
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that contains the genetic instructions necessary for the development and functioning of all known living organisms. It consists of two long chains, known as strands, that coil around each other to form a double helix. The DNA is negatively charged. In this article, we will learn the answer to “Why is DNA Negatively Charged,” and the structure and function of DNA in detail.
Table of Content
- What is DNA?
- Structure of DNA
- Why is DNA Negatively Charged?
- Discovery of DNA
- Types of DNA
- Functions of DNA