Comprehension Questions

Section 16.1

Question 16.1

Why is gene regulation important for bacterial cells?

Question 16.2

Name six different levels at which gene expression might be controlled.

Section 16.2

Question 16.3

Draw a picture illustrating the general structure of an operon and identify its parts.

Question 16.4

What is the difference between positive and negative control? What is the difference between inducible and repressible operons?

Question 16.5

Briefly describe the lac operon and how it controls the metabolism of lactose.

Question 16.6

What is catabolite repression? How does it allow a bacterial cell to use glucose in preference to other sugars?

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Section 16.3

Question 16.7

What is attenuation? What are the mechanisms by which the attenuator forms when tryptophan levels are high and the antiterminator forms when tryptophan levels are low?

Section 16.4

Question 16.8

What is antisense RNA? How does it control gene expression?

Question 16.9

What are riboswitches? How do they control gene expression? How do riboswitches differ from RNA-mediated repression?

For more questions that test your comprehension of the key chapter concepts, go to for this chapter.