Class NEET 2026 ALL Q #2058
COMPETENCY BASED
APPLY
4 Marks 2026 NTA-RE-NEET-2026 MCQ SINGLE
Which of the following statements about lac-operon is correct?
(A) Galactose can act as an inducer of lac operon
(B) Gene i is constitutively expressed
(C) Lactose activates repressor to bind to the operator
(D) Genes i, z, y and a share single common promoter
Correct Answer: B

AI Tutor Explanation

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Detailed Solution

Step 1: Analyze the lac-operon structure

The lac-operon consists of a regulatory gene (i), a promoter (p), an operator (o), and three structural genes (z, y, and a). The regulatory gene 'i' codes for the repressor protein.

Step 2: Evaluate Option (B)

The gene 'i' is responsible for producing the repressor protein. It is termed 'constitutive' because it is expressed continuously at a low level in the cell, regardless of the presence or absence of the inducer (lactose).

Step 3: Evaluate other options

Option (A) is incorrect because allolactose (an isomer of lactose), not galactose, is the inducer. Option (C) is incorrect because lactose/allolactose inactivates the repressor by binding to it, preventing it from binding to the operator. Option (D) is incorrect because the 'i' gene has its own separate promoter and is not part of the polycistronic transcript of the structural genes.

Final Answer: B

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Pedagogical Audit
Bloom's Analysis: This is an APPLY question because it requires the student to apply knowledge of gene regulation mechanisms to identify the correct functional characteristic of the regulatory gene.
Knowledge Dimension: CONCEPTUAL
Justification: The question tests the understanding of the functional roles of specific components within a biological system (operon model).
Syllabus Audit: In the context of NEET, this is classified as COMPETENCY. This question assesses the student's ability to differentiate between regulatory and structural gene functions, a core competency in Molecular Basis of Inheritance.