coding for protein are called exons, and the noncoding regions separating the exons are called introns. Following transcription, these coding sequences must be joined together before the mRNAs can function. The process of removal of the introns and subsequent rejoining of the exons is called RNA splicing.
DNA is divided into functional units called genes. A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for a functional product (mRNA, tRNA, or rRNA). Since the vast majority of genes are transcribed into mRNA and mRNA is subsequently translated into polypeptides or proteins, most genes code for protein synthesis
