NEETZoologyMolecular Basis of Inheritance
What is the relationship between the z, y, and genes in the lac operon?
Options
- AThey code for unrelated proteins
- BThey are involved in different metabolic pathways
- CThey code for proteins that are needed together to function in the same or related metabolic pathways
- DThey are not involved in any metabolic pathways
Correct answer
C. They code for proteins that are needed together to function in the same or related metabolic pathways
Step-by-step solution
The lac operon consists of one regulatory gene (the i gene – here the term i does not refer to inducer, rather it is derived from the word inhibitor) and three structural genes (z, y, and a). The i gene codes for the repressor of the lac operon. The z gene codes for beta-galactosidase (β-gal), which is primarily responsible for the hydrolysis of the disaccharide, lactose into its monomeric units, galactose and glucose. The y gene codes for permease, which increases permeability of the cell to β-galactosides. The ge