TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - The Structure and Function of Genes A1 - Schaefer, G. Bradley A1 - Thompson, Jr., James N. PY - 2017 T2 - Medical Genetics: An Integrated Approach AB - When one thinks about the genetic makeup of a human, or indeed any organism, it is natural to focus on the protein-coding genes. After all, that is the part of the genome that controls biochemical activities of cells and the processes of growth and development. But the protein-coding genes whose function is summarized in the "Central Dogma" (DNA ↔ mRNA → polypeptide) account for only about 3% of the DNA in a human cell. The genome also contains a large array of DNA sequences that have other functions (Figure 4-1) or that perhaps have no function at all. Some sequences represent the no-longer functional copies of duplicated genes, pseudogenes, produced at an earlier time in a species' history. In other cases, the regulatory functions of regions like microRNAs have only recently been recognized. Thus, the genome must be understood as a package of informational, historical, and noncoding DNA along with regions that hold secrets that researchers continue to unravel with the tools of molecular biology. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1147722257 ER -