NEET2026ZoologyMolecular Basis of InheritanceActual
Which of the following statements about lac-operon is correct ?
Options
- AGalactose can act as an inducer of lac operon
- BGene i is constitutively expressed
- CLactose activates repressor to bind to the operator
- DGenes i , z , y and a share single common promoter
Correct answer
B. Gene i is constitutively expressed
Step-by-step solution
The i gene in the lac operon codes for the repressor protein. It is a regulatory gene that is constitutively expressed, meaning it is transcribed continuously to maintain a basal level of repressor in the cell. Galactose does not act as an inducer of the lac operon; lactose or allolactose serves as the inducer. Lactose binds to the repressor protein and inactivates it, preventing it from binding to the operator region. Genes z , y , and a are structural genes that share a single common promoter, whereas the i gene