Here's a breakdown:
* Gene: A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a specific protein.
* Coding sequence: The part of the gene that is actually translated into protein. It consists of a series of codons, each three-base-pair sequence that specifies a particular amino acid.
* Open reading frame (ORF): A continuous stretch of DNA sequence that begins with a start codon (AUG) and ends with a stop codon (UAA, UAG, or UGA). This is the section of the gene that can be translated into a protein.
Important Notes:
* Not all of a gene is coding. There are non-coding regions called introns that are removed before the mRNA is translated.
* The coding sequence is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which then carries the genetic code to the ribosomes for protein synthesis.
Let me know if you have any other questions!