Question

A scientist shines ultraviolet light on a colony of blue colored bacteria. She then places colonies of the bacteria in separate Petri dishes. After allowing the bacteria to replicate for several generations, the scientist observes that some of the dishes now contain colonies with purple and red colored bacteria. What can be concluded from this observation?

Answer 1

From this observation, we can tell that the bacteria have undergone mutation in the gene which is the reason behind the colour change in bacteria.

We know that the colour of any substance is indicative of the pigment present in the substance.

Thus, the mutation has modified the pigment expressed by the bacteria.

It is due to change in either length of the chain or the amino acids present in the pigment.