<P> Hershey and Chase showed that the introduction of deoxyribonuclease (referred to as DNase), an enzyme that breaks down DNA, into a solution containing the labeled bacteriophages did not introduce any P into the solution . This demonstrated that the phage is resistant to the enzyme while intact . Additionally, they were able to plasmolyze the bacteriophages so that they went into osmotic shock, which effectively created a solution containing most of the P and a heavier solution containing structures called "ghosts" that contained the S and the protein coat of the virus . It was found that these "ghosts" could adsorb to bacteria that were susceptible to T2, although they contained no DNA and were simply the remains of the original bacterial capsule . They concluded that the protein protected the DNA from DNAse, but that once the two were separated and the phage was inactivated, the DNAse could hydrolyze the phage DNA . </P> <P> Hershey and Chase were also able to prove that the DNA from the phage is inserted into the bacteria shortly after the virus attaches to its host . Using a high speed blender they were able to force the bacteriophages from the bacterial cells after adsorption . The lack of P labeled DNA remaining in the solution after the bacteriophages had been allowed to adsorb to the bacteria showed that the phage DNA was transferred into the bacterial cell . The presence of almost all the radioactive S in the solution showed that the protein coat that protects the DNA before adsorption stayed outside the cell . </P> <P> Hershey and Chase concluded that DNA, not protein, was the genetic material . They determined that a protective protein coat was formed around the bacteriophage, but that the internal DNA is what conferred its ability to produce progeny inside a bacterium . They showed that, in growth, protein has no function, while DNA has some function . They determined this from the amount of radioactive material remaining outside of the cell . Only 20% of the P remained outside the cell, demonstrating that it was incorporated with DNA in the cell's genetic material . All of the S in the protein coats remained outside the cell, showing it was not incorporated into the cell, and that protein is not the genetic material . </P> <P> Hershey and Chase's experiment concluded that little sulfur - containing material entered the bacterial cell . However no specific conclusions can be made regarding whether material that is sulfur - free enters the bacterial cell after phage adsorption . Further research was necessary to conclude that it was solely bacteriophages' DNA that entered the cell and not a combination of protein and DNA where the protein did not contain any sulfur . </P>

Which of the three experiments gave evidence that protein was not the genetic material