A scientist discovers a new bacterial species that can survive in extremely acidic conditions. How would you predict this bacterium uses gene expression to adapt?
Responses

None of these
None of these

It would only express genes during cell division
It would only express genes during cell division

It would permanently activate all genes to prepare for any condition
It would permanently activate all genes to prepare for any condition

It would selectively express genes for acid-resistance proteins when pH drops
It would selectively express genes for acid-resistance proteins when pH drops

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
It would selectively express genes for acid-resistance proteins when pH drops.

Reason: bacteria commonly use inducible gene regulation to respond to environmental stress. Acid exposure would trigger regulatory systems (two‑component sensors, alternative sigma factors, stress regulators) that turn on acid-resistance genes (e.g., proton pumps/F1F0‑ATPase, amino‑acid decarboxylases, chaperones, membrane‑modifying enzymes). Constitutive activation of all genes is wasteful, and expression is not limited to cell division, so inducible, targeted expression is the most efficient strategy.