Regulatory Region of a Gene
Definition
The regulatory region of a gene refers to sequences of DNA that control when and where expression of specific genes occur. They act like switches controlling whether certain genes are turned on or off.
Analogy
Think about your house's electrical system. You have switches that control when and where lights turn on or off. The regulatory region is like those switches for genes - deciding which ones light up (get expressed) and which ones stay dark (stay silent).
Related terms
Promoter Region: A specific sequence on the DNA where RNA polymerase binds and starts transcription.
Enhancer Region: These are sequences in DNA that increase transcription rates by providing binding sites for transcription factors.
Silencer Region: These regions do just opposite; they decrease transcription rates by hindering binding sites for transcription factors.
"Regulatory Region of a Gene" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.