3' Untranslated Regions (3'UTRs)
Definition
These are sequences in mRNA that follow the translation termination codon and are not translated into protein. They play a role in regulating gene expression.
Analogy
Think of 3'UTRs as the end credits of a movie. They don't contribute to the main plot (protein synthesis), but they provide important information about how and when the movie was made (gene regulation).
Related terms
Polyadenylation Signal: This is a DNA sequence that signals for an addition of a poly-A tail at the 3' end of an mRNA molecule, which helps protect it from degradation.
Coding Sequence: This is the portion of a gene's DNA or RNA, composed of exons, that codes for protein.
Gene Expression: The process by which information from a gene is used to create proteins and other gene products.
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