Answer: The portions of the noncoding human genome that have functions for the cell include introns, which are involved in gene regulation and alternative splicing, exons, which contain the coding instructions for proteins, telomeres, which protect the integrity of chromosomes, and promoters, which initiate the process of transcription.
Step-by-step explanation:
The portions of the noncoding human genome that have functions for the cell include:
a) Introns: Introns are noncoding regions within genes that are transcribed into RNA but are removed during the process of splicing. While introns do not code for proteins directly, they play important roles in gene regulation and alternative splicing. Introns contain regulatory sequences that control gene expression and can influence the splicing patterns of exons.
b) Exons: Exons are the coding regions within genes that are transcribed into RNA and are eventually translated into proteins. Exons contain the instructions for building functional protein molecules. They are interspersed among the introns and are pieced together after the removal of introns during RNA splicing.
c) Telomeres: Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes. They serve to protect the genetic material from degradation and ensure the stability and integrity of chromosomes during cell division. Telomeres play a crucial role in preventing the loss of genetic information and are involved in aging and the maintenance of genome stability.
d) Promoters: Promoters are specific regions of DNA that initiate the process of transcription, where the DNA sequence is used as a template to synthesize RNA. Promoters contain binding sites for transcription factors, which are proteins that regulate gene expression. They help in recruiting the RNA polymerase enzyme and initiating transcription by unwinding the DNA helix.