Question

Describe how the lac operon functions and explain how it permits E. coli to produce the enzymes needed to break down lactose when it is present in the bacterium.

Answer 1

Answer:

An operon consists of a group of genes which are controlled by a single promoter.

The lac operon present in the E.coli comprises of genes for making proteins which  breakdown lactose into glucose.

Normally, the lac operon will be turned of by a repressor when there is not enough lactose present.

When lactose is present in the cell, the operon is activated when lacl forms a bond with the promoter region due to its changes in the structure. This causes the process of transcription to occur.