Question

hi guys, can someone explain operons to me? (on a fairly basic level...I'm a freshman in high school)

Answer 1

An operon refers to a gene or set of genes and all the regulatory elements associated with it. Genes are sequences of DNA that can be transcribed to produce proteins. However, not all DNA is composed of genes; there are also regulatory elements that control whether certain genes are transcribed or not and the rate at which they are transcribed, in order to control the protein profile of the cell.

Regulatory elements include promotor sequences, often found upstream of the coding genes, which serve as binding sites for transcription factors that help bring transcription machinery to that gene. Enhancer elements can be located anywhere within the gene (in introns) or even at distant sites and they two bind transcription factors that enhance transcription of the gene beyond what you would get just from the promoter. Repressors are similar sequences, though binding of transcription factors to them reduce transcription of that gene or even silence it altogether.

If you need me to clarify anything please let me know!

Answer 2

thank you so much :) this will really help tomorrow on (ew) my bio final!

Answer 3

Wow haha just realized I said two instead of too...good luck :)