Teaching the Big Ideas of Biology with Operon Models

What is it about?

This paper presents an activity that requires students to reason using models of the trp and lac operons. Students are presented six scenarios for the trp operon and five for the lac operon. In most of the scenarios, specific mutations have occurred in parts of the operons or regulatory elements that alter the behavior of the operons. Students predict the outcome in each scenario, and they are also challenged to relate their understanding of operon behavior to major biological themes of homeostasis, evolution, information, interactions, and emergent properties.

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Why is it important?

When used as described, this activity helps teachers guide their students to a deeper understanding of bacterial operons. This provides students with a solid foundation to learn about more complex systems of gene regulation.