A mutation in the gene encoding the lactose repressor (lacI) that prevents lactose from binding to the LacI protein would result in

A) constant expression of the lac operon in the absence of lactose.
B) constant repression of the lac operon in the absence of lactose.
C) constant expression of the lac operon in the presence of lactose.
D) constant repression of the lac operon in the presence of lactose.