Which enzyme was used to destroy DNA in Avery et al.'s experiments?

In Avery et al.'s experiments, DNase was the enzyme used to destroy DNA. This was a crucial part of their work to demonstrate that DNA is the genetic material responsible for bacterial transformation. By treating the extracts from the heat-killed smooth strain of bacteria with DNase, Avery and his colleagues were able to eliminate the transforming ability of the extract, which indicated that DNA was indeed the substance responsible for carrying genetic information. The ability to specifically target and degrade the DNA confirmed its role in the transformation process, thereby providing strong evidence that DNA is the hereditary material, as opposed to proteins or RNA. This foundational work laid the groundwork for our understanding of molecular genetics.