Final answer:
The correct answer is a) β-galactosidase; Permease; Transacetylase. These genes in the lac operon encode enzymes for lactose metabolism in E. coli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lac operon contains three genes; lacZ, which encodes β-galactosidase, lacY, which encodes Lac permease, and lacA, which encodes an enzyme called transacetylase. Therefore, the correct answer is a) β-galactosidase; Permease; Transacetylase. These genes encode enzymes necessary for the digestion and metabolism of lactose, particularly when other preferred sugars like glucose are not available.