Definition

A part of a gene that is not used for making proteins and is taken out before the messenger RNA is made.

Example

Introns are removed from the RNA transcript before it is translated into a protein.

Conversation

I was reading about genes and came across the term intron.

Oh, I've heard of that! It's the part that gets removed, right?

Exactly! I find it fascinating how it doesn't code for anything important.

Yeah, it’s interesting how our DNA has so many non-coding regions like introns.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Intron → The word is formed from the prefix "in-" (meaning not) and the root "tron" (derived from the Greek "tron", meaning a part or segment). An intron is a segment of a gene that does not code for proteins, hence it is a part that is not expressed in the final protein product.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('in-') coding for proteins, which helps you remember that an intron is a segment that does not contribute to the final protein.

Visually Confused Words