What Phenotype Would You Expect to See in a Strain

Question

What phenotype would you expect to see in a strain of E. coli with a mutation in the phr gene?
A) increase in the methylation of nucleotide bases
B) decrease in UV- induced mutations
C) decrease in reversion of base- pair substitution mutations
D) increase in UV- induced mutations
E) decrease in the methylation of nucleotide bases

Accepted Answer

The phr gene in E. coli encodes for photolyase, an enzyme involved in the repair of DNA damaged by UV light through a process called photoreactivation. A mutation in the phr gene would impair the DNA repair mechanism, leading to an increase in UV-induced mutations.