True/False: In the presence of tryptophan, transcription of the trp operon is on.

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Multiple Choice

True/False: In the presence of tryptophan, transcription of the trp operon is on.

Explanation:
Regulation of the trp operon is a repressible system. When tryptophan is present, it binds to the repressor protein to form an active repressor that attaches to the operator and blocks RNA polymerase, preventing transcription of the operon. This negative feedback stops production of more tryptophan when it’s already available. Only when tryptophan is scarce does the repressor become inactive, allowing transcription to proceed. So transcription is not on in the presence of tryptophan; it’s turned off.

Regulation of the trp operon is a repressible system. When tryptophan is present, it binds to the repressor protein to form an active repressor that attaches to the operator and blocks RNA polymerase, preventing transcription of the operon. This negative feedback stops production of more tryptophan when it’s already available. Only when tryptophan is scarce does the repressor become inactive, allowing transcription to proceed. So transcription is not on in the presence of tryptophan; it’s turned off.

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