Martha Chase facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Cowles Chase
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| Born | November 30, 1927 |
| Died | August 8, 2003 (aged 75) Lorain, Ohio, USA
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| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | College of Wooster, University of Southern California |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Genetics |
Martha Cowles Chase (born November 30, 1927 – died August 8, 2003) was an American scientist. She was a geneticist, which means she studied how traits are passed down from parents to children. In 1952, she worked with another scientist, Alfred Hershey. Together, they proved that DNA is the material that carries genetic information, not protein. This was a very important discovery for understanding life.
Early Life and Education
Martha Chase was born in 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio. She went to college and earned her first degree from the College of Wooster in 1950. Later, in 1964, she earned her PhD from the University of Southern California. A PhD is a very high degree that shows someone is an expert in their field.
Important Research
In 1952, Martha Chase was a young assistant. She worked with Alfred Hershey at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Dr. Hershey was an expert in bacteriophages. These are special viruses that infect bacteria.
Together, they did a famous experiment called the Hershey–Chase experiment. It was also known as the 'blender experiment'. This experiment helped scientists understand how living things inherit traits.
The experiment showed that DNA is the material that carries genetic information. Before this, many scientists thought protein was the genetic material. Their work proved that DNA holds the instructions for life.
Later Life
After her important scientific work, Martha Chase faced some personal challenges. These challenges led her to stop her career in science in the 1960s. For many years, she suffered from a health condition that affected her memory. Martha Chase passed away on August 8, 2003, when she was 75 years old. She died from pneumonia.
Images for kids
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Martha Chase, a pioneering geneticist.
See also
In Spanish: Martha Chase para niños
