INTRONS Meaning and
Definition
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Introns are sections of DNA or RNA molecules that are transcribed or copied into the corresponding mRNA molecule but are later removed before the final mRNA molecule is translated into a protein. They are non-coding regions that interrupt the coding regions of a gene, hence their name "introns," meaning "intervening sequences."
Introns are found in eukaryotic organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. They are distinct from exons, which are the coding regions of a gene that are expressed in the final protein sequence. Introns are typically longer in length compared to exons and can vary in size within and between genes. They are usually spliced out of the pre-mRNA molecule by a process called RNA splicing.
Although introns do not directly contribute to the coding of proteins, they play crucial regulatory roles in gene expression. They were once considered as "junk" or non-functional DNA, but research has shown that they can influence gene regulation, alternative splicing, and the development of complex organisms.
The presence of introns allows for alternative splicing, where different combinations of exons can be spliced together, leading to the production of multiple mRNA and protein isoforms from a single gene. This process increases the diversity of proteins that can be generated without the necessity of increasing the number of genes in an organism's genome.
In conclusion, introns are non-coding regions of DNA or RNA that are transcribed but subsequently removed during RNA splicing. They play important regulatory roles in gene expression and provide flexibility for alternative splicing, thus contributing to the complexity of gene regulation and protein diversity in eukaryotic organisms.
Common Misspellings for INTRONS
Etymology of INTRONS
The word "introns" originates from the combination of two terms: "in" and "trons".
The term "in" is a common prefix meaning "inside" or "within" in English, derived from the Latin preposition "in". It is often used to indicate something occurring inside or being a part of a larger entity.
The term "trons" is derived from the Greek word "tron", meaning "part" or "section".
When these two elements are combined, "introns" refers to the portions or sections of a gene that are transcribed into the precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA), but are subsequently removed during the process of RNA splicing, before the mature mRNA is produced. These non-coding regions were given the name "introns" to reflect their location within the gene and their removal from the final messenger RNA molecule.
