The portion of DNA that does not code for proteins is commonly called:

The portion of DNA that does not code for proteins is commonly called:

• A. Coding DNA
• B. Exon DNA
• C. Pseudogene DNA
• D. Junk DNA

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that much of the genome does not carry instructions to make proteins. This noncoding portion was long described as “junk DNA” because its function wasn’t clear. Even though we now know many noncoding regions have important regulatory roles or produce noncoding RNA, the everyday label for the noncoding part of the genome is still junk DNA. The other options describe specific types of sequences that either code for proteins (coding DNA and exons) or are nonfunctional remnants of genes (pseudogenes) rather than the broad noncoding portion. So junk DNA is the best-fitting term.

The main idea is that much of the genome does not carry instructions to make proteins. This noncoding portion was long described as “junk DNA” because its function wasn’t clear. Even though we now know many noncoding regions have important regulatory roles or produce noncoding RNA, the everyday label for the noncoding part of the genome is still junk DNA. The other options describe specific types of sequences that either code for proteins (coding DNA and exons) or are nonfunctional remnants of genes (pseudogenes) rather than the broad noncoding portion. So junk DNA is the best-fitting term.