As it happens, the antibiotic penicillin works by inhibiting an enzyme involved in the synthesis of bacterial cell walls. A mutation in a bacterium causes changes in the amino acid sequence of this enzyme so that it no longer binds penicillin. Because of this mutation, bacterial cell wall formation is no longer inhibited by penicillin, creating a new mutant bacterial strain (#2). The parent bacterial strain (#1), however, does not have this mutation.

In an environment containing both strains (#1 and #2), what will happen to the bacteria with this mutation if no penicillin is present?

A. Mutant bacteria will come to dominate the population in this environment.
B. Mutant bacteria will not form a normal cell wall in this environment.
C. Mutant bacteria will not grow normally in this environment.
D. Nothing, it will not be selected for or against.

In an environment containing both strains #1 and #2, if no penicillin is present, the mutant bacteria with the mutation in the enzyme involved in bacterial cell wall synthesis will have an advantage over the parent strain. They may outcompete the parent strain and come to dominate the population, depending on various factors such as fitness advantage and competition for resources.

Explanation:

In this scenario, the mutant bacteria with the mutation in the enzyme involved in bacterial cell wall synthesis will have an advantage over the parent strain in the absence of penicillin. The mutation in the amino acid sequence of the enzyme prevents it from binding to penicillin, allowing the mutant bacteria to continue forming a normal cell wall even in the presence of the antibiotic.

In an environment containing both strains #1 and #2, the growth and dominance of the mutant bacteria will depend on various factors. If the mutant bacteria have a fitness advantage over the parent strain, such as faster growth or better utilization of resources, they may outcompete the parent strain and come to dominate the population. However, if the parent strain has a fitness advantage or if there is no significant difference in fitness between the two strains, the population may remain stable with both strains coexisting.

It is important to note that the absence of penicillin in the environment is a key factor in this scenario. Without the presence of penicillin, the mutant bacteria are not specifically selected for or against based on their resistance to the antibiotic. Therefore, in the absence of penicillin, the mutant bacteria will not be selectively favored or disadvantaged, and their growth will depend on other factors influencing bacterial population dynamics.

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