Given below are two statements.
Statement I: Sometimes regulatory sequences are loosely defined as regulatory genes, even though these sequences do not code for any RNA (or) protein.
Statement II: Operator region in the lac operon does not encode for any protein but acts as a binding site for the repressor.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.

Both statement I and statement II are correct.

Statement I is true. Sometimes, regulatory sequences are loosely defined as regulatory genes, even though these sequences do not code for any RNA (or) protein.

Statement II is also true. In the lac operon, the operator region is a DNA segment that does not encode any protein but plays a critical role in the regulation of gene expression. It serves as a binding site for the lac repressor protein. When the lac repressor binds to the operator, it prevents RNA polymerase from transcribing the genes of the lac operon, thereby regulating the expression of genes involved in lactose metabolism. The operator region's function is purely regulatory, and it does not code for any protein.