Main Entry: op·er·on

Pronunciation: \ˈä-pə-ˌrän\

Function: noun

Etymology: French opéron, from opérer to bring about, effect (from Latin operari) + -on ²-on

Date: 1961

: a group of closely linked genes that produces a single messenger RNA molecule in transcription and that consists of structural genes and regulating elements (as an operator and promoter)