What is an intron?

An intron is defined as a segment of a gene that is transcribed into precursor mRNA but is not translated into protein. Introns are interspersed within coding sequences called exons, which do translate into protein. After transcription, introns are removed through a process known as splicing, resulting in a mature mRNA that consists only of exons ready for translation. This characteristic of introns highlights their role in providing a complex level of gene regulation, allowing for alternative splicing and the generation of multiple protein isoforms from a single gene. Understanding introns is crucial in genetics and molecular biology, especially when studying gene expression and the intricacies of RNA processing.