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Q13 - Bacterial Transcription Factors Coordinating Metabolic and Lifestyle Genes

Theoretical 1 Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Gene Regulation: Prokaryotic

Bacteria regulate gene expression through transcription factors that sense environmental changes in order to adapt to the ever-changing environment. One transcription factor often controls multiple genes. Since the expression of a gene consumes energy, the selection of the gene group to be expressed is important for the survival strategy of the bacterium. It is often observed that bacteria move vigorously in search of nutrients in the aquatic environment, while bacteria in biofilms rarely move.

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

A. Generally, transcription factors, which induce the expression of glucose utilizing genes, suppress the expression of lactose-metabolizing genes.
B. Transcription factors activated by phosphate depletion activate the expression of glycogen-utilizing genes.
C. Transcription factors that activate the expression of fatty acids-metabolizing genes are generally activated under oxygen depleted conditions.
D. Transcription factors that activate the expression of biofilm-forming genes usually suppress the expression of the genes of flagella formation.
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Question reproduced from IBO 2020, Theoretical Exam 1, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)