The Graph Below Shows a Growth Curve of E

Multiple Choice

The graph below shows a growth curve of E. coli growing in a defined medium containing equal molar amounts of glucose and lactose. Based on your knowledge of the regulation of the lac operon, the best explanation of these results is that

A) the bacteria are utilizing both sugars simultaneously.
B) early on, due to the presence of lactose, the bacteria utilize the lac operon. Glucose is used later.
C) the presence of glucose causes the formation of cAMP catabolic repressor protein (CRP) complexes, which shut down the lac operon until the glucose is used up.
D) glucose is used first. Once glucose becomes limiting, intracellular cAMP increases, forming cAMP- CRP complexes that activate the lac operon to use lactose.
E) none of the above