Genetics — Test

Question 25 • Biology

Based on the current understanding of this operon, which hypothesis would be useful for James to test?

Answer

Removal of the RNA polymerase molecule should increase the amount of bacterial growth on the plate.

Increasing the rate at which RNA polymerase acts will inhibit bacterial growth.

Decreasing the amount of allolactose (inducer) in the bacterial growth media should increase the rate of bacterial growth.

Addition of allolactose (inducer) to the bacterial growth media should increase the speed at which the bacteria metabolize the sugar lactose.

Explanation

Allolactose acts as an inducer in the lac operon: it binds to the repressor and allows RNA polymerase to transcribe genes needed to metabolize lactose. So adding allolactose should increase the bacteria’s ability to break down lactose, making “addition of allolactose should increase the speed at which the bacteria metabolize lactose” the useful hypothesis. Removing RNA polymerase or reducing the inducer would interfere with this process rather than improve it.

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