When the lacZ gene technique is used to detect recombinant DNA in host bacterial cells, the colonies will appear _______ if the cells have been successfully transformed.

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The lacZ gene encodes for the enzyme β-galactosidase, which cleaves X-gal, a substrate that turns blue when cleaved. If the lacZ gene is disrupted by the insertion of recombinant DNA, the enzyme is not produced, and the colonies remain white.

When the LacZ Gene Technique Is Used to Detect Recombinant