Lac Operon Flashcards
What is the lack operon?
When the genes which code for the enzymes controlling certain pathways can be switched on or off as required as some metabolic pathways are only required under certain conditions this prevents resources being wasted
What is lactose?
Sugar broken down by the enzyme beta-galactosidase
Where is the code for making the protein/Enzyme beta-galactosidase found?
On the chromosomes
When is the gene which codes for beta-galactosidase switched on?
When lactose is present and it is switched off in the absence of lactose
What is the process of switching a gene on only when the enzyme is needed called?
Enzyme induction
What is enzyme induction?
The process of switching on a gene only when the enzyme is needed
What is an operon?
It consists of one or more genes coding for an enzyme and a neighbouring operator gene which controls them
What is the operator gene affected by?
A represser molecule coded for an operator gene situated further along on the DNA chain
