Final answer:
The cis-acting DNA sequences that function at a distance from their target gene are called enhancer elements. These enhancer elements contain distal control elements that bind transcription factors to increase gene transcription. Therefore correct option is C
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for the cis-acting DNA sequences that often function at a distance from the gene they are regulating is c. enhancer elements. Enhancer elements are vital for the control of gene expression, being able to operate despite their distance from the genes they affect. These elements contain distal control elements, short DNA sequences that work with transcription factors and mediator proteins to amplify the transcription of a specific gene. Enhancers can be located upstream, downstream, within introns, or even on another chromosome entirely, and they have the capacity to loop back to interact with the gene's promoter.