In the Ames test,mutagenicity is normally tested on a strain of bacterium (Salmonella typhimurium)that cannot synthesize the amino acid histidine.Therefore,these bacteria require histidine in the growth plate to survive.A researcher performs the Ames test to evaluate the mutagenicity of a newly synthesized compound and notices that in the presence of the new compound,several colonies of Salmonella typhimurium is living on the histidine-free growth plate.What can be assumed from these results?
A)The newly synthesized compound induced a mutation in the bacteriA.
B)The bacteria no longer produce histidine.
C)The bacteria now produce histidine.
D)The newly synthesized compound induced a mutation in the bacteria and the bacteria no longer produce histidine.
E)The newly synthesized compound induced a mutation in the bacteria and the bacteria now produce histidinE.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of colonies on a histidine-free plate suggests that the bacteria have undergone a mutation allowing them to synthesize histidine, which they were previously unable to do. This indicates that the newly synthesized compound has mutagenic properties.

In the Ames Test,mutagenicity Is Normally Tested on a Strain