Why did Hershey and Chase work with bacteriophages in their experiments to prove that DNA is the genetic material ? Explain.

Hershey and Chase worked with bacteriophage to find which of its two components, protein and DNA, entered the bacteria.

In the experiment, they grew some viruses on a medium that contained radioactive phosphorus and some others on medium that contained radioactive sulfur. Radioactive phages were allowed to attach to E. coli bacteria and their genetic material entered the bacterial cell. The bacterial cell treats the viral genetic material as if it was its own and subsequently produces more virus particles. Bacteria which was infected with viruses that had radioactive DNA were radioactive, indicating that DNA was the material that passed from the virus to the bacteria.