1. One who performs an operation or operates equipment. 2. In genetics, a sequence of DNA that interacts with a repressor of operon to control the expression of adjacent structural genes. See o. gene. 3. A symbol representing a mathematical operation. [L. worker, fr operor, to work]
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op·er·a·tor 'äp-(ə-).rāt-ər n
1) one (as a dentist or surgeon) who performs surgical operations
2) a binding site in a DNA chain at which a genetic repressor binds to inhibit the initiation of transcription of messenger RNA by one or more nearby structural genes called also operator gene compare OPERON
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op·er·a·tor (opґər-a-tər) [L. operari to work] a DNA sequence preceding the coding sequence of a structural gene in an operon, to which a regulator protein binds to control transcription of the structural genes in that operon.Medical dictionary. 2011.