In Jacob and Monad's analysis of mutant E. coli strains in their study of the lac operon, the absence of the β-galactosidase enzyme, but presence of the lactose permease and galactosidase transacetylase enzymes, indicated that the mutation occurred in the _____ of the lac operon.

Question

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The lacZ gene encodes the β-galactosidase enzyme. Therefore, a mutation in the lacZ gene would result in the absence of β-galactosidase activity while not affecting the production of lactose permease and galactosidase transacetylase, which are encoded by the lacY and lacA genes, respectively.

In Jacob and Monad's Analysis of Mutant E