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Reading frames contain genetic information that encodes amino acids to make proteins. DNA and RNA have reading frames, with six potential reading frames in DNA and three in RNA. Altering reading frames can cause genetic abnormalities. Open reading frames contain complete genes or overlapping genes, and non-coding DNA may have other functions.
A reading frame is a sequence of genetic information that contains data that can be used to encode amino acids that can be joined into polypeptide chains to make proteins. Reading frames are found in both DNA and RNA. Researchers can study reading frames to learn more about specific genes and the processes that can interfere with gene expression.
In the case of DNA, DNA contains sets of nucleotides known as triplets or codons. Each codon can be transcribed from the RNA into another triplet and, in turn, translated into an amino acid. This system is used by every living organism on Earth to encode genetic information. The organism’s genome, the complete collection of genetic information it contains, contains instructions on everything from how many limbs to grow in utero, in the case of mammals, to blueprints that can be used to replace cells when they die.
The reading frame is the section of DNA or RNA that contains the directions for making a complete protein. There are six potential reading frames in DNA, because the start of a reading frame depends on where you start reading, and DNA is double-stranded. With RNA, there are three potential reading frames. It is important to identify the correct starting point, otherwise the reading box will be transcribed and translated as unintelligible. By looking at a reading frame, a researcher can see which protein which set of codons should be encoding.
As you might imagine, inserting or removing codons presents a problem. Just as one becomes confused when reading a book with a page torn out or a paragraph inserted at random, the expression of genetic information becomes confused when a reading frame is altered. As a result, a gene may not express itself as expected, and people may develop birth defects. This is one way people can experience genetic abnormalities.
In an open reading frame, the start and end codons can be identified. An open reading frame can contain a complete gene or overlapping genes; the genetic code is not always as ordered as one might imagine. In fact, the genetic code contains a lot of what is known as non-coding DNA, meaning that the DNA doesn’t appear to serve a function in terms of gene expression. Non-coding DNA may contain interesting information about a species’ genetic heritage and may perform other functions that will be discovered over time as researchers learn more about the genome.
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