Noncoding regions of DNA that have no apparent function. The term "junk DNA" is a disparaging one, expressing some of the disappointment felt by geneticists when they first gazed upon sizable segments of the genetic code and, instead of seeing one wonderful gene after another, they saw a few exons surrounded by vast stretches of "jun [..]

strips of DNA whose purposes have not been identified. They seem to play no role in anything genetic.

Junk DNA is a popular term for DNA that does not contain genes. This is non-coding DNA. Most of the genome consists of non-coding DNA. Because it does not code for specific function, it was long thoug [..]

Term used to describe the excess DNA that is present in the genome beyond that required to encode proteins. A misleading term since these regions are likely to be involved in gene regulation, and othe [..]

Sequences that accumulate by mutation and that are neutral or deleterious.

A term used to refer to stretches of DNA within the genome that do not encode genes and are likely to play a structural, regulatory, or undefined role.

Stretches of DNA that do not code for genes; most of the genome consists of so-called junk DNA which may have regulatory and other functions. Also called non-coding DNA.