Correct Answer - B
`**" "`the z gene codes for beta-galactosidase (`beta`-gal), which is primarily respondibel for the hydrolysis of the disaccharide, lactose into its monomeric units, galactose and glucose.
`**" "`Escherichia coli with mutated z gene of lac operon cannot grow in medium containing only lactose as the source of energy because they cannot synthesis functional galactosidase.