Question

What is the basic function of catabolic operons like the lac operon?

Answer 1

Whenever there is no glucose and there is presence of lactose..then the lac operon is activated and breaks down lactose to release energy. Operon is nothing but a group of genes which code for proteins or enzymes required for a particular function.

Answer 2

so operator promoter or structural genes? @BioEpic

Answer 3

As in...?
the lac operon is a collection of genes that codes for enzymes that degrade lactose when there are low levels of glucose.

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac_operon

Answer 5

@Drii_salsa