Question

The lac operon is responsible for the production of a regulatory molecule polypeptides that permit E. coli to use a specific sugar as a carbon source for metabolic energy. The lac operon acts as a genetic switch to begin sugar break down, but only if

(1) lactose is present in the cell; and
(2) all glucose has been depleted.

Answer 1

(1) lactose is present in the cell; and

(2) all glucose has been depleted.

Step-by-step explanation:

Operon are Clusters of gene that undergo coordinated transcription, and share regulatory regions. Lactose Operon is the operon responsible for the production of three polypeptides that permit E. coli to utilize the sugar lactose as a carbon source for growth and metabolic energy

Functional Sequences of the Lac Operon are:

1. LacZ Gene: Encodes for Beta Galactosidase, which catabolizes lactose into its respective sugars and helps produce Allolactose, the inducer for the Lac Operon.
2. LacY Gene: Encodes for Permease, which allows lactose to enter the cell into the first place.
3. LacA Gene: Encodes for Transacetylase, which protects against the possible harmful byproducts of lactose digestion.