Final answer:
The continuous sequence of a gene that begins with a start codon and ends with a stop codon is referred to as the open reading frame, which serves as the template for encoding the amino acid sequence in a protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
The continuous sequence of a gene that begins with a start codon and ends with a stop codon is commonly referred to as the open reading frame (ORF). During gene expression, the process begins with transcription, where a strand of mRNA is synthesized from the DNA template. Once transcribed, the mRNA contains codons, which are three-base sequences that encode amino acids. The open reading frame is critical as it dictates the specific sequence of amino acids in a protein during translation. The start codon, typically AUG, signals the beginning of the ORF, while specific triplets known as stop codons (UAA, UAG, or UGA) signal its end.
Eukaryotic genes often contain introns and exons. The introns are non-coding sequences removed during post-transcriptional modification, while the exons are sequences that remain in the mature mRNA and are expressed to synthesize proteins. The ORF specifically refers to the exonic, protein-coding regions flanked by regulatory sequences such as the promoter and the terminator within a gene.