Suppose a plant breeder wants to isolate mutants in tomatoes that are defective in DNA repair. However, this breeder does not have the expertise or equipment to study enzymes in DNA repair systems. Which methods would best allow the breeder to identify tomato plants that are deficient in DNA repair?
A) Expose putative DNA repair mutant plants to ionizing radiation L and see if they survive less well than wild-type plants.
B) Measure the amount of post-translational processing that occurs in the putative DNA repair mutant plants. Measure the somatic mutation rates for the putative DNA repair mutant plants.
C) Expose the putative DNA repair mutant plants to a deaminating agent and select those that have a decreased mutation rate.
D) Measure the germ line spontaneous and induced mutation rates for the putative DNA repair mutant plants.

The provided question has marked options incorrectely the correct order as follows:

A) Expose putative DNA repair mutant plants to ionizing radiation L and see if they survive less well than wild-type plants.

B) Measure the amount of post-translational processing that occurs in the putative DNA repair mutant plants.

C) Measure the somatic mutation rates for the putative DNA repair mutant plants.

D) Expose the putative DNA repair mutant plants to a deaminating agent and select those that have a decreased mutation rate.

E) Measure the germline spontaneous and induced mutation rates for the putative DNA repair mutant plants.

The correct answer is: A), C) and E)

Explanation:

The breeder wants to isolate the mutants in tomatoes that are defective in DNA repair, to identify such plants breeder should follow these methods as they will allow best to identifying the defective tomatoes-

Measure the somatic mutation rates for the putative DNA repair mutant plants.

Measure the germline spontaneous and induced mutation rates for the putative DNA repair mutant plants.

Expose putative DNA repair mutant plants to ionizing radiation L and see if they survive less well than wild-type plants.  This will allow the breeder to see and analyze the ability of DNA repair in tomatoes