unità codificanti

English translation: coding fragments is ok

10:45 Sep 18, 2005
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Science - Genetics / guidelines for genetic testing
Italian term or phrase: unità codificanti
This is the ST:

Il patrimonio genetico (genoma) di un individuo e' costituito da acido desossiribonucleico (DNA), organizzato in **unità codificanti (geni)** e da regioni non codificanti ed ordinato in strutture (cromosomi), di numero e forma caratteristici per ogni specie.

This is my translation:

The genetic make-up (genome) of an individual is made of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) organized into **coding fragments (genes)** and non coding regions, and arrayed along structures (chromosomes) the number and shape of which are specific to each species.

I translated **unità codificanti** as *coding fragments* since *coding units* means something else; is this acceptable ?

Thanks!
Linda 969
Local time: 09:45
English translation:coding fragments is ok
Explanation:
and "coding sequences" might be even better

We're not speaking of codons or coding units (i.e. triplets) but of introns - i.e. coding sequences interspersed among non-coding sequences (exons).

In fact, I'd quibble with "units" in the original - even when there is an intron for a single protein domain, it is a bit of a stretch to call it "an unit", IMHO;

and I prefer sequence to fragment because the translated intron sequence will became a part (a fragment) of the mature m-RNA indeed, but only after a maturing process that may in fact cut away some part of the intron too.

You should stick to "coding units" only if you really really dislike "improving the original... :-)

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Note added at 3 hrs 12 mins (2005-09-18 13:58:33 GMT)
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The fact that it's not codons but introns is made clear by "geni" as synonim in brackets - which if not exact is at least acceptable as a loose first approximation if introns are intended, but would be a gross blunder for codons.
Selected response from:

Alfredo Tutino
Local time: 09:45
Grading comment
thanks to all of you! I really appreciate your help
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1coding units
David Van der Vloet
4 +1coding fragments is ok
Alfredo Tutino


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
unità codificanti
coding units


Explanation:
Penso sia questo!

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Note added at 27 mins (2005-09-18 11:12:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

They're called coding units... but you may want to use Codons, as suggested by Marion, if you think that would take away the doubts.

David Van der Vloet
Belgium
Local time: 09:45
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  marionclarion: I agree this is the right translation, both linguistically and for giving the right meaning literally! THe "coding untits" are parts of the gene that are distinct from the "non-coding" units" - although technically they are now called "CODONS"
3 mins
  -> Yes, they indeed are!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
unità codificanti
coding fragments is ok


Explanation:
and "coding sequences" might be even better

We're not speaking of codons or coding units (i.e. triplets) but of introns - i.e. coding sequences interspersed among non-coding sequences (exons).

In fact, I'd quibble with "units" in the original - even when there is an intron for a single protein domain, it is a bit of a stretch to call it "an unit", IMHO;

and I prefer sequence to fragment because the translated intron sequence will became a part (a fragment) of the mature m-RNA indeed, but only after a maturing process that may in fact cut away some part of the intron too.

You should stick to "coding units" only if you really really dislike "improving the original... :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs 12 mins (2005-09-18 13:58:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The fact that it's not codons but introns is made clear by "geni" as synonim in brackets - which if not exact is at least acceptable as a loose first approximation if introns are intended, but would be a gross blunder for codons.

Alfredo Tutino
Local time: 09:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
thanks to all of you! I really appreciate your help

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rosa Cabral: yes, as he says sequences would be the most adequate
6 hrs
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