Final answer:
Cis regulatory elements are DNA sequences on the same chromosome that regulate gene expression by binding with transcription factors at sites near the genes they influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The regulatory elements that affect genes at nearby sites on the same chromosome are known as cis regulatory elements. These elements include transcription factor binding sites within the promoter that regulate the transcription of a gene adjacent to it. Transcription factors can bind to various components of the promoter, including enhancers, which may lie upstream, downstream, or at a distance from the gene, to regulate gene expression. Through binding to cis-regulatory elements, transcription factors can turn on or off the expression of genes in response to environmental stimuli.