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Non-coding DNA

OCR A-level BiologyGenetic Engineering and BiotechnologyLesson 1 of 17

The human genome consists of 20-25,000 genes, making up about 25 of the human DNA. Large non-coding regions of DNA called introns are spliced from pre-mRNA in the nucleus before it leaves through the nuclear pores. The exons that are spliced together are then translated in the cytoplasm. Other non-coding regions of DNA are telomeres at the ends and centromeres with which chromosomes attach to the spindle during nuclear division.

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Key terms in this lesson

Intron
A non-coding section of a gene, or pre-mRNA, that is removed during splicing before translation.
Exon
A coding section of a gene, or pre-mRNA, that remains after splicing and is translated.

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