Martha Chase

Biography

Martha Chase, together with Alfred Hershey, conducted the famous Hershey-Chase experiment in 1952 that confirmed DNA — not protein — is the genetic material. Using bacteriophages labeled with radioactive isotopes, they demonstrated that only the phage DNA entered bacteria during infection, providing definitive evidence for DNA as the carrier of hereditary information. This was one of the most important experiments in the history of molecular biology.

玛莎·蔡斯与阿尔弗雷德·赫尔希于1952年共同进行了著名的赫尔希-蔡斯实验，证实了DNA——而非蛋白质——才是遗传物质。他们使用放射性同位素标记的噬菌体，证明在感染过程中只有噬菌体DNA进入细菌，为DNA作为遗传信息载体提供了确凿证据。这是分子生物学历史上最重要的实验之一。

Key Achievements

• Conducted the Hershey-Chase experiment proving DNA is genetic material (1952)

  进行赫尔希-蔡斯实验证明DNA是遗传物质（1952年）

• Used radioactive isotopes to trace DNA and protein in phage infection

  使用放射性同位素追踪噬菌体感染中的DNA和蛋白质

• Landmark experiment in the history of molecular biology

  分子生物学历史上的里程碑实验

References & Citations

1. Wikipedia: Martha Chase — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Chase
2. Hershey, A.D. & Chase, M. 'Independent Functions of Viral Protein and Nucleic Acid in Growth of Bacteriophage,' Journal of General Physiology, 1952.