Genome organization refers to the sequential, not the structural organization of the genome. Besides the coding exons, the non-coding DNA in Eukaryotes may fall in the following classes
- Introns. They are DNA sequences inserted between the exons and found in the ORF. They are spliced after the first level of transcription. Most introns are junk inserted within genes.
- Pseudogenes. 'Dead', non-functional copies of genes present elsewhere in the genome, but no longer of any use.
- Retropseudogenes. Like pseudogenes, but have been processed, i.e. lack introns. Produced by the action of reverse transcriptase (RT) on mRNA, and subsequent incorporation of the cDNA into the genome.
- Transposons. Jumping genes, which splice themselves in and out of the genome (in DNA form) randomly, by the action of transposase.
- Retrotransposons. Transcribed into an mRNA, which encodes an RT enzyme, which then copies the mRNA back to DNA and incorporates it into the genome.
Infact in humans only 1.5% of the entire genome length corresponds to coding DNA. This 1.5% codes for about 27,000 genes which in turn code for proteins that are responsible for all the cellular processes. |
