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Intron

In a gene, introns are DNA sections that don't encode part of the gene's protein and are spliced out of messenger RNA in processing; they are the opposite of exons, which are the parts that do code and are kept. Introns are often referred to as "junk DNA." In reality, we don't entirely understand how intron sections work. They are probably composed of old code, sections of DNA that are no longer used.

One of the primary ways a species changes is through crossing over DNA during reproduction. Introns are useful to a gene as crossover sections because they do not code for vital traits; instead, they function as blank areas that are safe to splice to. Introns may function as locations for replicating RNA to adhere to, as well. And they seem to allow a gene to code for multiple proteins instead of one specialized one if the proteins have segments in common.

Scientists only know of a few segments of intron sequence that code for splicing or act as binding sites. These areas are probably used in changing coding and for stabilizing the spliceosome.

Web Resources On Intron

The Exon-Intron Database
Intron Sequence and Information database

Book Resources On Intron

Ribosomal Rna and Group I Introns by Schroeder & Green (Editors)
Exons, Introns, and Talking Genes: The Science Behind the Human Genome Project by Christopher Wills

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