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Glite Dictionary
regulator gene

regulator gene

7.0
Part of DNA that makes a chemical to stop other genes from working
  • noun
  • /ˈrɛɡjʊˌleɪtər dʒin/
  • Specialized
translation icon : gen regulador
  • The mutation in the regulator gene affected the expression of several traits in the offspring.

Examples

  • Scientists are studying how changes in the regulator gene can lead to variations in gene expression.

  • Researchers discovered that the regulator gene played a crucial role in the development of the organism.

  • Couldn't it be a mutation of a single regulator gene for feather color during replication for the first division of the zygote?

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Synonyms

repressor gene
vsregulator gene
  • Specialized
7.2

A gene that makes a protein that stops other genes from turning on

is focused on controlling operator activity rather than on the transcription blocking mechanism
regulatory gene
vsregulator gene
  • Specialized
7.3

A part of DNA that controls other genes by making a protein that turns them on or off

is specific in producing a blocking substance that inhibits operator activity

Surface Forms

regulator gene singular
regulator genes plural

Morphology

regulator + gene

The compound is directly compositional: 'regulator' (one that regulates) + 'gene' (a DNA segment) yields a gene that regulates expression. This follows a regular English noun–noun naming pattern and is semantically predictable, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Regulator gene comes from the words regulator, meaning a control switch or small manager, and gene, so imagine a tiny manager in the cell that turns other genes on and off. That's why a regulator gene means a gene that 'controls' or 'stops' the activity of other genes.