In studies of recombination between mutants 1 and 2 from Problem 21, the results shown in the following table were obtained. Strain Dilution Plaques Phenotypes E. coli B 10⁻⁷ 4 r E. coli K12 10⁻² 8 + Mutant 7 (Problem 21) failed to complement any of the other mutants (1–6). Define the nature of mutant 7.

Video transcript

Hey everyone. Let's take a look at this question Together. According to Benzer, the capability of two mutants in combination to restore the wild type function is called. What? So according to Benzer, he discovered that during simultaneous infection, each of those mutant strains provided something that the other mutant string lacked and that led to the restoration of the wild type function to be retained. And so when you take that one system Ron that has one mutation and you combine it with another system Ron that has a different mutation, you end up having one that has a defective A. But a functional B. And then in the other one you have the opposite. So then you have the functional A. But a defective B. And so when that simultaneous infection occurs, you combine that functional A with that functional B. So that way you have to functional parts and no defective parts. And that mechanism of combining the two functional parts during that simultaneous infection is what he called answer choice C complementation, which is the correct answer because that process of combining the two functional parts during that simultaneous infection leads to each of the cyst. Ron's providing that functional part. And so he termed it complementation, which is answer choice C. The correct answer, I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye