What are the differences between introns and exons?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Introns

Exons

Definition

Are noncoding segments of DNA and RNA molecules which are spliced out during the pre-mRNA stage of transcription

Are coding segments of an RNA transcript, or the DNA encoding it, which are translated into proteins

Cell type

Is found in eukaryotes

Is found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes

Conservation

Typically less conserved across species

Typically more conserved across species

DNA bases

DNA bases are located in between exons

DNA bases are translated into proteins

Mechanism

Introns are spliced in the nucleus prior to the mRNA entering the cytoplasm

Once mRNA has been processed in the nucleus, it retains the exons

Length

Are typically much longer than exons

Are typically much shorter than introns

Basis of differentiation	Introns	Exons
Definition	Are noncoding segments of DNA and RNA molecules which are spliced out during the pre-mRNA stage of transcription	Are coding segments of an RNA transcript, or the DNA encoding it, which are translated into proteins
Cell type	Is found in eukaryotes	Is found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes
Conservation	Typically less conserved across species	Typically more conserved across species
DNA bases	DNA bases are located in between exons	DNA bases are translated into proteins
Mechanism	Introns are spliced in the nucleus prior to the mRNA entering the cytoplasm	Once mRNA has been processed in the nucleus, it retains the exons
Length	Are typically much longer than exons	Are typically much shorter than introns