Question

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. The results are in the graph below.

The bacteriophage used in this experiment reproduces by the lytic cycle. Suppose a similar experiment were conducted with a bacteriophage that uses the lysogenic cycle. How would the effect on the infected bacteria MOST likely differ?

A. The bacteriophage would attach to the bacteria and reproduce in the extracellular space.

B. The bacteriophage would become permanently dormant and unresponsive to environmental cues for reproduction.

C. The bacteriophage would attach its genes to the bacteria’s DNA, allowing its genes to be passed to the bacteria’s daughter cells.

D. The bacteriophages would burst out of the bacterial cell, but they would be unable to enter another cell.

Answer 1

bacteriophage undergoing lysogenic cycle will inject the genetic material into the bacteria and the genetic material will be inserted into the bacterial genome and remains as a prophage, as the bacterial chromosome is replicated the bacteriophage DNA is also replicated and then passed to daughter cells so the answer is C. The bacteriophage would attach its genes to the bacteria’s DNA, allowing its genes to be passed to the bacteria’s daughter cells.