Download Gene Regulation Topic Guide

Gene Regulation Topic Guide
Vocabulary:
*gene regulation
*promoter
*regulatory gene
*regulatory sequence
*lac operon
*trp operon
*operator
*repressor
*positive control
*negative control
*regulatory protein
*inducible / repressible
Video to watch:
Bozeman Biology – Gene Regulation (10 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S3ZOmleAj0
Optional:
Bozeman Biology - The lac operon (10 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10YWgqmAEsQ
Mc-Graw hill – Lac Operon (this is much more in depth, but is well explained)
http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/9834092339/student_view0/chapter16/the_lac_operon__inducti
on_.html
Prezi:
David Knuffke – Regulation of gene expression
http://prezi.com/jgpqmkmh7xk5/ap-bio-information-11-regulation-of-geneexpression/
Questions:
Before you watch the video, we need to review a bit…
1. What is the purpose of transcription?
2. What is the purpose of translation?
3. What does the word regulation mean? How might this apply to
biology?
Ok – you may watch the video now…
4. Why does Mr. Anderson think that E. coli is interesting?
5. What is a regulatory gene?
6. What is a regulatory sequence?
7. What is a regulatory proteins function?
8. What kind of molecule is a promoter?
9. Where does most regulation occur in protein synthesis?
10. What is an example of a regulatory sequence in eukaryotes?
11. What is an example of a regulatory protein in eukaryotes?
12. What does this regulation cause to happen (or not happen)?
13. Ok now we are going to talk about the Lac operon. This gene sequence
is used by prokaryotes to control the genes being turned on and off in
order to make the proteins to digest lactose. If it is off, bacteria cannot
digest lactose. If it is on, lactose can be digested. First, draw the lac
operon.
14. How many genes does the lac operon have?
15. What is the function of the operon?
16. What is the function of the repressor?
17. Why is this called positive control?
18. What happens to the lac operon when lactose is present? (be specific)
19. What happens to the lac operon when lactose is absent? (be specific)
20. OK, now on to the trp operon. This operon is responsible for the
production of the amino acid tryptophan. If a bacteria is in an area
where tryptophan is already present, the bacteria will save energy by
turning off this operon and using the amino acid around it. If there is no
tryptophan, the operon will turn on so that the bacteria can produce it
for themselves. First, draw the operon.
21. Why would this be called a negative control?
22. What happens when tryptophan is present? (be specific)
23. What happens when tryptophan is absent (be specific)
24. Why would a bacterial cell have operons?
25. Do eukaryotes have operons?
26. What do eukaryotes use instead to begin transcription?
27. How do eukaryotes control gene regulation in general? (this process
can actually get really complicated)
Now, one last thing…go to David Knuffke’s prezi:
28. What does the term “inducible” mean? Which operon is inducible?
29. What does the term “repressible” mean? Which operon is repressible?
30. What is “up regulation”?
31. Now, look at what is called the CAP/cAMP system. It looks pretty
complicated (we will talk about it), but within this system two situations
can take place:
a. Lactose is present, glucose is scarce: What basically happens in
this situation? (is transcription increased?)
b. Lactose is present, glucose is present: What basically happens
in this situation (is transcription increased?)