What type of regulation is exemplified by the lac operon?

What type of regulation is exemplified by the lac operon?

Step 1: Understand what the lac operon is. It is a group of genes in bacteria that help them digest lactose.
Step 2: Learn about regulation in genetics. Regulation controls when and how genes are turned on or off.
Step 3: Identify the two types of regulation: positive regulation (which activates transcription) and negative regulation (which inhibits transcription).
Step 4: Focus on negative regulation. This means that something (a repressor) can stop the gene from being expressed.
Step 5: In the lac operon, a repressor protein binds to a specific part of the DNA called the operator.
Step 6: When the repressor is bound to the operator, it prevents the transcription of the genes needed to digest lactose.
Step 7: Conclude that the lac operon is an example of negative regulation because the repressor inhibits transcription.

No concepts available.