What is the primary function of the z gene in the lac operon?

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It increases the permeability of the cell to $β$ -galactosides.

It codes for beta galactosidase, responsible for hydrolyzing lactose into galactose and glucose.

It codes for the repressor of the lac operon.

It encodes a trans acetylase.

answer is D.

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Detailed Solution

The lac operon consists of one regulatory gene (the i gene, inhibitor) and three structural genes (z, y, and a).

The i gene codes for the repressor of the lac operon.

The z gene codes for beta-galactosidase (β-gal), which is primarily responsible for the hydrolysis of the disaccharide, lactose into its monomeric units, galactose and glucose.

The y gene codes for permease, which increases permeability of the cell to β-galactosides.

The a gene encodes a transacetylase.

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