The type of control is described by the response of the operon when no regulatory protein is extant. In the case of negative regulator, the genes in the operon are distinct unless they are switched off by a repressor protein. Therefore the operon will be turned on essential (the genes will be prcise) when the repressor in inactived. In the case of positive control, the genes are distinct only when an active regulator protein, an activator, is present, Thus the operon will be turned off when the positive regulatory protein is missing or inactivated.