Question

a) What is an operon?

b) How are genes in an operon expressed?

c) What advantages are gained by having genes organized into operons?

Answer 1

A- The operon is a set of genes which are regulated by the common promoter. Mostly operon expresses the gene which is involved in one pathway. Ex- Lac operon

B- All the genes present in the operon are under the control of the single promoter. If RNA polymerase is bound to the promoter site then the operon will express itself. Sometimes the operon is regulated by the final product of the operon.

C- All the genes which are involved in the one synthetic pathway are present in the operon. This gives the bacteria advantage of expressing all the enzymes which are required by the cell for the pathway. It also helps bacteria to regulate the operon by just single regulating molecule rather than regulating all the enzyme involved in the pathway`