Chapter 9, Problem 12Q

Summary Introduction

To explain: What are the features that distinguish exons from introns and other sequences in the genome.

Concept introduction:

Exons and introns are the most important parts of a gene. Exons are the protein-coding part and introns are the non-coding part. Any database that used to distinguish between exons and introns would be a complex one. In order to characterize a new gene, the program used in the database must combine statistical information derived from already characterized genes. Any exon that codes for a particular protein will always have an open reading frame, and many characters like this can be used to categorize exons and introns in a newly found gene.