Suppose several genes are grouped together in a bacterial genome and the group results in a single enzyme. If one of these genes is mutated and the enzyme is no longer active, this gene must be part of ________.
A) an intron
B) an operon
C) a repressor
D) an activator
E) an inducer

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The group of genes that result in a single enzyme is called an operon. In an operon, all the genes are transcribed together as a single mRNA and the resulting protein products work together in a biochemical pathway. If one of the genes in the operon is mutated and the enzyme is no longer active, it will affect the entire pathway, indicating that the gene must be part of the operon. An intron is a non-coding region of DNA within a gene that is transcribed but later removed during RNA splicing. Repressors and activators are regulatory proteins that control gene expression, and an inducer is a small molecule that activates gene expression by binding to a regulatory protein. These terms are not directly relevant to the given scenario.

Suppose Several Genes Are Grouped Together in a Bacterial Genome