Question

A transformed bacterial cell contains a transgene that can produce one molecule of protein ‘X’ per cell. This bacterium duplicates every 20 minutes. It is cultured in a nutrient medium for 3 hours.

How many molecules of protein ‘X’ will be produced by the end of this culture?

Answer 1

Initial number of bacteria = 1

Doubling time = 20 minutes

Total culture time = 3 hours = 180 minutes

Number of generations:

`180/20` = 9 generations

Final number of cells after 9 generations:

2⁹ = 512 cells

Each cell produces one molecule of protein ‘X’:

512 × 1 = 512 molecules of protein, ‘X’