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Mutant Detection quiz

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  • What are the two main methods used for mutant detection?
    The two main methods are direct selection and indirect selection.
  • What is the key feature of direct selection in mutant detection?
    Direct selection promotes the growth of only selectable mutants, making it easy to identify them.
  • Why can't direct selection be used to detect auxotroph mutants?
    Auxotrophs require additional growth factors and grow alongside prototrophs, so direct selection cannot distinguish them.
  • What is an auxotroph?
    An auxotroph is a mutant that requires additional growth factors to grow.
  • What is a prototroph?
    A prototroph is a non-mutant organism that can grow without additional growth factors.
  • How does indirect selection differ from direct selection?
    Indirect selection allows both mutants and non-mutants to grow, requiring identification of mutants among the crowd.
  • What analogy is used to describe the challenge of indirect selection?
    Indirect selection is compared to finding 'Waldo' among many people, as mutants must be found among non-mutants.
  • What technique is commonly used for indirect selection of non-selectable mutants?
    Replica plating is commonly used for indirect selection of non-selectable mutants like auxotrophs.
  • What is the first step in replica plating?
    The first step is plating both auxotrophs and prototrophs onto a master plate.
  • What material is used to transfer colonies from the master plate in replica plating?
    A sterile velvet fabric is used to transfer colonies from the master plate.
  • What are the two types of agar plates used in replica plating?
    The two types are nutrient agar and minimal media agar plates.
  • Why do auxotrophs fail to grow on minimal media in replica plating?
    Auxotrophs cannot grow on minimal media because it lacks the additional growth factors they require.
  • How are auxotroph mutants identified using replica plating?
    Auxotrophs are identified by their absence on minimal media and presence on nutrient agar.
  • What does the presence of a colony on nutrient agar but not on minimal media indicate?
    It indicates that the colony is an auxotroph mutant.
  • What is the purpose of replica plating in mutant detection?
    Replica plating allows indirect selection and identification of non-selectable mutants such as auxotrophs.