Question

In Beadle and Tatum's auxotroph experiments, the arginine auxotrophs that had a mutation in the arg3 gene required the addition of what compound to grow?

Answer 1

Arginine

Step-by-step explanation:

The biochemical pathway for synthesis of arginine from its precursor includes the formation of ornithine from precursor. Ornithine serves as precursor for formation of citrulline which is then converted into arginine.

The "arg-3" mutants of Beadle and Tatum experiment were defective in the gene that code for the enzyme required to convert citrulline into arginine. These mutants could grow only when arginine was supplemented in the medium.