Biology 2581B Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Lac Operon, Repressor

• School: Western University
• Department: Biology
• Course: Biology 2581B
• Professor: Susanne Kohalmi

Document Summary

So far, we have examined gene regulation in a strictly qualitative manner (e. g. the transcriptional levels of the lac operon were either high or low; the presence of glucose in the growth media decreased transcription of the lac operon). The goal of quantitating gene regulation is to create working mathematical models of two very simple genetic networks. Here is a model we can use for a given gene y: Using this model, we can quantify the rate of mrna production and degradation for gene y using a. The level of y mrna is dependent on two things: how much y mrna is produced through transcription of the source (rate of production, how much y mrna is degraded through degradation by nucleases (rate of degradation) Spigots (a and b) control the flow of y mrna into the box: when spigot b is open, there is a high production rate of y mrna (in nmoles/min)