In genetics, non-coding DNA describes DNA which does not contain instructions for making proteins (or other cell products such as noncoding RNAs). In eukaryotes, a large percentage of many organisms' total genome sizes is comprised of noncoding DNA (a puzzle known as the "C-value enigma"). Some noncoding DNA is involved in regulating the activity of coding regions. However, much of this DNA has no known function and is sometimes referred to as "junk DNA".

Recent evidence suggests that some non-coding DNA may be employed by proteins created from coding DNA. An experiment concerning the relationship between introns and coded proteins provided evidence that some non-coding DNA is just as important as coding DNA. This experiment consisted of damaging a portion of noncoding DNA in a plant which resulted in a significant change in the leaf structure because structural proteins depended on information contained in introns. Some non-coding DNA are genetic "switches" that do not encode proteins, but do regulate when and where genes are expressed.

Some non-coding DNA can be a non phenotypical RNA virus historical relic that, by chance, happened to provide some benefit and was therefore conserved.

See also

• Eukaryotic chromosome fine structure
• Genetic code
• Intron
• Junk DNA
• Noncoding RNA
• Phylogenetic footprinting
• Promoter
• Regulatory sequence
• Selfish DNA
• Telomere
• Vermiform appendix

References

• Bennett, M.D. and I.J. Leitch (2005). The Evolution of the Genome. San Diego: Elsevier.
• Gregory, T.R (2005). The Evolution of the Genome. San Diego: Elsevier.
• Carroll, Sean B. et al. (2008). Scientific American. New York: Scientific American Inc..

External links

• Animal Genome Size Database
• Plant DNA C-values Database
• Fungal Genome Size Database