Person

Martha Chase

Martha Chase (1927–2003) was an American genetics researcher who worked with Alfred Hershey on their 1952 bacteriophage experiment. They used separate labels for DNA and protein to follow infection and investigate the nature of genetic material.

Submitted by: StellarEpicReviewed by: StellarEpic

Published 2026.10.23v1

Contents

Joining Cold Spring Harbor

Born in Ohio, Chase completed her undergraduate degree in 1950 and joined Cold Spring Harbor as Hershey’s research assistant. There she participated in studies of bacteriophages and bacterial genetics.

References: [1]

Distinguishing DNA from protein

In the 1952 experiment, Chase and Hershey labelled DNA with radioactive phosphorus and protein with radioactive sulphur. Blending separated bacteria from externally attached material, allowing the two labels to be followed after infection. The findings supported DNA as the genetic material of the phage used.

References: [1] [2]

Further research and doctoral work

Chase left Cold Spring Harbor in 1953 and continued research elsewhere, earning a microbiology doctorate at the University of Southern California in 1964. The 1969 Nobel Prize went to Hershey, Luria and Delbrück; Chase’s place in this history rests on her co-authorship of the experimental work.

References: [1]

References

Sara Giarnieri / Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. “At the Lab Episode 7: Women in STEM.” 2024. View source ↗
Nick Wurm / Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. “Blending history and science.” 2023. View source ↗

Revision history

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v12026.10.23First edition

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Submitted by: StellarEpicReviewed by: StellarEpicSubmitted: 2026-10-23 13:33 UTCReviewed: 2026-10-23 13:33 UTC