Alfred Hershey
The bacteriologist whose simple 'blender experiment' with viruses proved DNA, not protein, was the molecule of heredity.
1908–1997 (age 89)·American bacteriologist and geneticist·Birthday: December 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Alfred Hershey was a quiet, meticulous researcher whose elegant experiment in 1952 provided one of the most decisive proofs in the history of biology. Working with the bacteriophage—a virus that infects bacteria—Hershey, alongside his assistant Martha Chase, designed a beautifully clear test. They knew phages were made of protein and DNA. By tagging each component with different radioactive markers and then using a kitchen blender to shear the viruses off their bacterial hosts, they showed that the infectious genetic material injected into the bacteria was DNA, not protein. This 'Hershey-Chase experiment' became a cornerstone of the molecular biology revolution, cementing the central role of DNA and paving the way for the discovery of its double-helix structure. For this work, done at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, he shared the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Alfred was born in 1908, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alfred Was Born
The biggest hits of 1908
Alfred's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1908Born
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Started school
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Became a teenager
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Could drive
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1926Could vote
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Turned 21
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1938Turned 30
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1948Turned 40
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 50
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 60
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 70
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 80
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Died at 89
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Conducted the famous Hershey-Chase blender experiment, which provided key evidence that DNA is the genetic material.
- Shared the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries concerning the genetic structure of viruses.
- Made significant contributions to the understanding of bacteriophage genetics and viral reproduction.
- Served as director of the Genetics Research Unit at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Did You Know?
The blender used in the famous experiment was a standard Waring kitchen blender.
He was known for his extreme frugality and simple lifestyle, even after winning the Nobel Prize.
He preferred to work with a small team and was famously shy, avoiding publicity whenever possible.
“The virus, not the bacterium, carries the genetic material into the cell.”
