Imagine that the DNA replication error rate for a repair-deficient E. coli is 1 in 10 million. If the E. coli genome is 5 million nucleotide pairs, how often will the E. coli genome sustain a mutation in this strain, keeping in mind that both strands of a DNA molecule are replicated at once?
A) once every five cell divisions
B) once per cell division
C) twice per cell division
D) four times per cell division
E) once every ten cell divisions

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given an error rate of 1 in 10 million and a genome size of 5 million nucleotide pairs, the probability of a mutation occurring during replication of the 5 million base pairs is essentially 1/2 (since 5 million is half of 10 million). However, because both strands of the DNA are replicated, this doubles the chance of a mutation occurring in the genome during each replication cycle, making it once per cell division.

Imagine That the DNA Replication Error Rate for a Repair-Deficient