Intergenic region

Pronunciation
/in-ter-JEEN-ik ree-gion/
Category
Genetics
Singular
Intergenic region
Plural
Intergenic regions

Definition

A region of DNA between genes, often containing regulatory elements.

Etymology

From Latin 'inter', meaning 'between', and 'genic', relating to genes.

Example

The intergenic regions of some plants contain sequences that regulate the expression of nearby genes.

Related Terms

Usage Notes

Intergenic regions can vary greatly in size and function.