The structure of the genome

Genome

The entire hereditary information of an organism encoded in the DNA

Genes

DNA sequences that code for a protein

What proportion of an eukaryotes genome is made up of genes?

Only a tiny proportion (1-2%) the rest of the genome is made up of sequences that do not code for a protein

What are the two known functions of non-coding sequences within the genome?

Sequences that regulate transcription and sequences that are transcribed to RNA but are then never translated

What are three examples of non-translated forms of RNA?

• rRNA

• RNA fragments

• tRNA

What are the non-coding sequences within a genome called?

Introns