Operon
Operon
Operon (/ˈɒpərɒn/) is a functioning unit of genomic DNA containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter. The genes are transcribed together into an mRNA strand and either translated together in the cytoplasm, or undergo splicing to create monocistronic mRNAs that are translated separately, i.e. several strands of mRNA that each encode a single gene product. The result of this is that the genes contained in the operon are either expressed together or not at all.
Etymology
The term "operon" was first proposed in 1960 by François Jacob and Jacques Monod. The word is derived from the verb "to operate".
Related Terms
- Promoter: A region of DNA that initiates transcription of a particular gene.
- Gene: A distinct sequence of nucleotides forming part of a chromosome, the order of which determines the order of monomers in a polypeptide or nucleic acid molecule which a cell (or virus) may synthesize.
- mRNA: Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded RNA molecule that is complementary to one of the DNA strands of a gene.
- Cytoplasm: The material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.
- Splicing: The editing of the nascent precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) transcript.
- Monocistronic mRNA: mRNA that codes for a single polypeptide chain.
- Genomic DNA: Genomic DNA is the DNA that holds the complete set of genetic data for an organism.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Operon
- Wikipedia's article - Operon
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