Campbell Biology (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321775651
ISBN 13: 978-0-32177-565-8

Chapter 8 - 8.4 - Concept Check - Page 157: 4

Answer

The conditions would be low-levels of lactose and high levels of the disaccharide containing fucose. This would give bacteria with the mutant enzyme a selective advantage when the main food source was the non-lactose disaccharide.

Work Step by Step

Natural selection requires that having a trait, here, the possession of an enzyme to digest a fucose-containing disaccharide, which improves survival and reproduction. This is because it is the main food source--bacteria able to use it would grow and reproduce much faster than those relying on lactose.
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