Answer: The statement that best explains the significance of the work done by Hershey and Chase is A. It supported the idea that DNA carries heritable information.
Explanation: In 1952, Hershey and Chase conducted experiments using viruses to determine whether DNA or protein was responsible for carrying genetic information. They used radioactive isotopes to label either the DNA or the protein coat of the virus, and then tracked which label was passed on to the next generation of viruses.
Their results showed that only the DNA label was passed on to the next generation, while the protein label remained outside the cells. This provided strong evidence that DNA, not protein, was responsible for carrying genetic information and passing it on to the next generation.
This discovery was a major breakthrough in the understanding of genetics and laid the foundation for the modern study of molecular biology. It supported the idea that DNA is the hereditary material in all living organisms, and led to a greater understanding of how genetic traits are inherited and passed on from generation to generation.