The prokaryotic operon is:
A) A DNA sequence element without any type of regulatory function
B) An RNA complex that is involved in the replication of DNA
C) a protein complex that catalyses the process of protein synthesis
D) A functional unit composed of a group of adjacent genes, co-ordinately controlled, and of DNA sequences with regulatory functions.
E) A group of adjacent genes independent from each other
IMAT 2024 · Question 32
Q32 - Gene regulation and the lac operon
Pinned
The correct answer is D) A functional unit composed of a group of adjacent genes, co-ordinately controlled, and of DNA sequences with regulatory functions.
An operon is a group of neighbouring genes switched on and off together, plus the regulatory sequences that control them (a promoter and an operator). The genes are transcribed together into one mRNA.
The lac operon in E. coli is the textbook example: the genes for using lactose are only switched on when lactose is around. Regulation is the whole point, which rules out A and E straight away.
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