How Will E

Question

How will E.coli growing in a medium containing both lactose and glucose react?
A)By preferentially utilizing lactose first.
B)By preferentially utilizing glucose first.
C)By utilizing both at the same time.
D)Neither compound will be utilized for growth.
E)One will sometimes be utilized over the other.

Accepted Answer

E. coli preferentially utilizes glucose over lactose due to the mechanism of catabolite repression, where the presence of glucose inhibits the lac operon, delaying the utilization of lactose until after the glucose is depleted.