What is the Difference Between CDS and ORF?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between Coding Sequences (CDS) and Open Reading Frames (ORF) lies in their roles and confirmation:
- CDS: These are the actual regions of DNA that are translated into proteins. CDS does not contain introns and consists of all the exons in the gene, along with the start and stop codons. In prokaryotes, CDS and ORF are the same, as they lack introns. CDS transcribes fully into a complete mRNA sequence.
- ORF: These are potential protein-coding regions located between the start codon and the stop codon. ORFs may contain introns. Not all ORFs get translated into proteins, and they can be a part of the mRNA sequence. In eukaryotes, ORFs result from processing or RNA splicing.
In summary, all CDSs are ORFs, but not all ORFs are CDSs. CDS represents the sequence that codes for a protein, while ORF is a potential protein-coding region.
Comparative Table: CDS vs ORF
The main difference between a Coding Sequence (CDS) and an Open Reading Frame (ORF) lies in their roles in the genome. Here is a table summarizing the differences between CDS and ORF:
| Feature | CDS (Coding Sequence) | ORF (Open Reading Frame) |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | CDS is the actual region of DNA that translates into a protein. | ORF is a stretch of DNA sequence located between a start codon (such as ATG) and a stop codon. |
| Introns | CDS does not contain introns. | ORF may contain introns. |
| mRNA Transcription | CDS transcribes fully into a complete mRNA sequence. | ORF can be a part of the mRNA sequence. |
| Protein Coding | All CDSs are ORFs, but not all ORFs are CDSs. This means that not all ORFs get translated into proteins. |
In prokaryotes, CDS and ORF are similar, as both are located between a start codon and a stop codon. However, in eukaryotes, the situation is more complex due to the presence of introns.
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