Bacteria were infected with phages labeled with 35S and then whirled in a food blender. Cells were then separated from the fluid medium supernatant. Which of the following would be true?
A) No radioactivity would be detected in either cells or supernatant.
B) The radioactivity would be found in the progeny phage particles if infection of the cells was allowed to continue.
C) The supernatant fluid would contain most of the radioactivity
D) The radioactivity would be found in the phage DNA within the infected cells

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phages were labeled with 35S, which is a radioactive isotope. Therefore, the radioactivity would be found in the supernatant fluid, which is where the progeny phage particles are located after being released from the infected bacterial cells. The cells themselves would not necessarily be radioactive unless the phages had entered the cell and the 35S was incorporated into the cellular components. However, this is not specified in the given scenario.

Bacteria Were Infected with Phages Labeled with 35S and Then