Question

So, i have been doing some lactose mutant analyses (beta-galactosidase assay, and complementation test). From the result obtained from the complementation test, a mutant has defection in lac Z gene where beta-galactosidase is produced. on the other hand, i also undertook the beta-galac assay. And, the results are really vague to interpret. The first thing is I want to focus on is basal-level transcription. Wild type displays the 0.1 of beta-galactosidase activity due to basal-level transcription (when before the addition of IPTG). But the mutant also records around 0.1 in beta-galactosidase activity without IPTG. if the lac Z is mutated, i guess, the figure should be really small or zero. But, still, it is able to produce the same amount of beta-galactosidase as wild type does. how would you interpret? any advice or suspected another mutation region in lac operon? (please be fully honest, if you not sure about your answer, let me know)

Answer 1