Explain how the lac operon is induced, then combine this with an explanation of transcription and translation of the genes involved.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Induction of the Lac Operon and Gene Expression
Introduction
The lac operon, a classic model system in molecular biology, plays a pivotal role in regulating the expression of genes involved in lactose metabolism in bacteria. Understanding the induction of the lac operon and the subsequent processes of transcription and translation is crucial in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying gene expression.
Induction of the Lac Operon
The lac operon is induced in the presence of lactose and the absence of glucose in the bacterial cell. This occurs through the action of the lac repressor protein and cAMP-CRP complex. When lactose is present, it is converted to allolactose, which acts as an inducer by binding to the lac repressor, rendering it inactive. Concurrently, low glucose levels lead to an increase in cAMP levels, promoting the formation of the cAMP-CRP complex. Together, these regulatory mechanisms lead to the induction of the lac operon and initiation of gene expression.
Transcription of Genes Involved
Following induction, RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region of the lac operon. This binding is facilitated by the cAMP-CRP complex, which enhances the affinity of RNA polymerase for the promoter. Subsequently, transcription initiates, leading to the synthesis of mRNA from the lac operon genes, including lacZ, lacY, and lacA. The mRNA serves as a template for protein synthesis.
Translation of Genes Involved
The synthesized mRNA undergoes translation, where ribosomes bind to the mRNA and initiate the process of protein synthesis. The genes encoded by the lac operon, namely lacZ, lacY, and lacA, are translated into functional proteins – β-galactosidase, lactose permease, and transacetylase, respectively. These proteins play essential roles in lactose metabolism, including the breakdown of lactose into glucose and galactose and the transportation of lactose into the bacterial cell.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the induction of the lac operon is a tightly regulated process that allows bacteria to adapt to their environment and efficiently utilize lactose as a carbon source. Understanding how induction triggers the transcription and translation of genes involved in lactose metabolism provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms governing gene expression in bacteria. This knowledge not only contributes to our fundamental understanding of gene regulation but also has practical implications in various fields, including biotechnology and medicine.
