Final answer:
To activate an inducible gene for transcription, the repressor must be inactivated.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order for an inducible gene to be transcribed, its repressor must be inactivated. The repressor is a transcription factor that suppresses transcription of a gene by binding to a DNA sequence called the operator. The operator is located within the regulatory region of the gene, which includes the promoter and the region surrounding it.