Final answer:
The sequence of a gene from start codon to stop codon, crucial for protein synthesis, is termed an open reading frame (ORF).
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 an open reading frame (ORF). This sequence is critical for gene expression, as it dictates the production of proteins through the processes of transcription and translation. During transcription, a region of DNA unwinds and the two strands separate, allowing a complementary strand of mRNA to be synthesized from the triplets within the gene. A codon, consisting of three nucleotides, then encodes for specific amino acids during translation, with AUG being the universal start codon setting the frame for protein synthesis, and one of three stop codons signalling its termination.