What is a gene body?

1 Answer
Sep 16, 2016

The transcriptional region of a gene

Explanation:

The term 'gene body' is used in different ways by scientists which makes it a bit confusing. It has to do with the different regions of a gene.

A gene has regulatory regions such as the promoter where the enzymes bind that initiate the transcription. Furthermore, a gene has a start and a stop site so the enzymes know what to do.

In between the start and stop site is the region that is transcribed into mRNA. This includes parts that will actually be translated into protein (exons) and parts that will be cut out of the mRNA and do not translate into protein (introns).

Introns and exons together are called the transcriptional region, or the #color(red)"gene body"#.

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