What are introns?

Introns are non-coding segments of RNA that are transcribed from DNA but do not code for proteins. During the process of gene expression, specifically in eukaryotic cells, introns are included in the initial RNA transcript. However, before the RNA molecule is translated into a protein, these non-coding regions are removed through a process known as RNA splicing. The remaining segments, called exons, are then joined together to form the mature mRNA, which is translated into a functional protein.

Understanding the role of introns is essential because they contribute to the complexity of gene regulation and expression. They can play roles in alternative splicing, allowing a single gene to encode multiple proteins by combining different sets of exons, thus increasing the diversity of proteins that can be produced from the genome.