Noncoding DNA

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Noncoding DNA

Noncoding DNA (pronounced: non-koh-ding dee-en-ey), also known as junk DNA (pronounced: juhnk dee-en-ey), refers to sequences of DNA that do not code for proteins. The term "noncoding DNA" is derived from the English words "non", meaning not, and "coding", which is derived from the verb "to code", meaning to assign a code to something for the purposes of classification or identification.

Etymology

The term "noncoding DNA" was first used in the late 20th century as scientists began to understand the complexities of genomic structure and function. The term "junk DNA" was coined by Susumu Ohno in 1972 to describe DNA that does not code for proteins, but this term is now considered misleading as noncoding DNA has been found to have various regulatory and structural functions.

Function

Noncoding DNA has several functions in the cell. Some noncoding DNA sequences are transcriptional regulatory elements, such as promoters and enhancers, which control the transcription of nearby genes. Other noncoding DNA sequences are involved in the structure of chromosomes, such as telomeres and centromeres. Some noncoding DNA sequences are transcribed into noncoding RNA molecules, such as microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, which have regulatory roles in the cell.

Related Terms

  • DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information in all living organisms and many viruses.
  • Protein: Large, complex molecules that play many critical roles in the body.
  • Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
  • Transcription: The process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA.
  • Promoter: A region of DNA that initiates transcription of a particular gene.
  • Enhancer: A short region of DNA that can be bound by proteins to increase the likelihood of transcription of a particular gene.
  • Chromosome: A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
  • Telomere: A region of repetitive nucleotide sequences at each end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration or from fusion with neighboring chromosomes.
  • Centromere: The part of a chromosome that links sister chromatids or a dyad.
  • RNA: Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells.
  • MicroRNA: A small non-coding RNA molecule that functions in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.
  • Long noncoding RNA: A type of RNA molecule that does not code for proteins but has functions in various biological processes.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski