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🦠microbiology review

Structural gene

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

A structural gene is a segment of DNA that encodes a protein or RNA molecule with a functional role in the cell. Unlike regulatory genes, structural genes are directly involved in coding for the synthesis of enzymes and other proteins.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Structural genes are transcribed into mRNA, which is then translated into proteins.
  2. In the operon model, structural genes are often found grouped together under the control of a single promoter.
  3. The lac operon in E. coli contains three structural genes: lacZ, lacY, and lacA.
  4. Mutations in structural genes can lead to dysfunctional proteins and impact cellular processes.
  5. Structural genes are different from regulatory genes, which control the expression of other genes but do not code for proteins themselves.

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