Question:

Gene expresses itself in a cell system as a protein/enzyme. How an expression of gene occurs in a cell system, when it needs to occur and how the gene expression is regulated in prokaryotic cell system was studied by the combined efforts of Francois Jacob, a geneticist and Jacques Monod, a biochemist. For their work on lactose metabolism in E. coli and introducing the concept of "lac operon", they were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1965.

(b) (ii) Why is the regulation of operon called negative regulation ?

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The repressor switches genes off by blocking the operator, so control is negative.
Updated On: Oct 22, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall how the repressor works:
In the lac operon the repressor binds the operator and stops transcription of the structural genes.

Step 2: Why it is called negative:
The regulatory protein acts as a brake. It switches the genes off, so the control is negative.
Genes are expressed only when the inducer removes this brake by inactivating the repressor.

Final Answer:
The repressor switches the structural genes off by binding the operator, so the regulation is called negative regulation.
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