intron
/ˈɪntrɑn/
noun
- A segment of a gene that does not code for a protein and is removed before the gene's message is used to make a protein.
- During RNA processing, introns are cut out and the remaining pieces are joined together.
- Scientists study introns to understand how genes are regulated.
- The intron sequence was once considered junk DNA, but now we know it has important functions.