noun
a gene that produces a repressor substance that inhibits an operator gene
• Syn: ↑regulator gene
• Part Holonyms: ↑operon
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noun or regulator gene : a gene that regulates the expression of one or more structural genes by controlling the production of a protein (as a genetic repressor) which regulates their rate of transcription
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Genetics.
any gene that exercises control over the expression of another gene or genes.
Also, regulator gene.
[1960-65]
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regulatory gene noun (biology)
A gene whose product controls the expression of other genes (cf ↑structural gene)
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Main Entry: ↑regular
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regulatory gene,
the part of an operon that regulates the structural genes; operator gene: »
The first known class consists of structural genes, which determine the amino acid sequence and three-dimensional shape of proteins; the second is regulatory genes, which specify whether structural genes will function and therefore control the rate of enzyme synthesis (Science News).
Useful english dictionary. 2012.