Internal control region

This stylistic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). The chromosome is X-shaped because it is dividing. Introns are regions often found in eukaryote genes that are removed in the splicing process (after the DNA is transcribed into RNA): Only the exons encode the protein. The diagram labels a region of only 55 or so bases as a gene. In reality, most genes are hundreds of times larger.

An internal control region is a sequence of DNA located with the coding region of eukaryotic genes that binds regulatory elements such as activators or repressors. This region can recruit RNA Polymerase or contribute to splicing.

See Also

• DNA
• Gene expression
• Gene family

References

• Google Book Search; first published 1976.

External links

• DNA From The Beginning - a primer on genes and DNA
• Genes And DNA - Introduction to genes and DNA aimed at non-biologist
• ENCODE threads Explorer Characterization of intergenic regions and gene definition. Nature (journal)