Biology (Mader), 10th Edition

Chapter 13: Regulation of Gene Activity

Learning Outcomes

After studying this chapter, you should be able to accomplish the following outcomes.

Prokaryotic Regulation

1. Define operon, and list its parts.
2. Explain how a regulator gene controls transcription of an operon.
3. Explain the regulation of the trp and lac operons.

4. List the levels at which gene expression in eukaryotes may be regulated.
5. Explain how DNA unpacking may be used to activate gene expression.
6. Define epigenetic inheritance.
7. Name the two types of transcription factors in eukaryotes and describe how they alter gene expression.
8. List the different types of posttranscriptional, translational, and posttranslational control of gene expression in eukaryotes.
9. Explain how defects in alternative mRNA splicing may cause disease in humans.

Regulation Through Gene Mutations

10. Compare and contrast spontaneous and induced mutations.
11. Explain how a point mutations or frameshift mutations in a gene may alter the activity of the protein it encodes.
12. Describe how the accumulation of mutations in a cell may cause cancer.