A short table of some representative organisms is shown above. These data are taken from the Database of Genome Sizes. The thick areas indicate the 'coding strand' of three genes. The mRNA's transcribed by the genes are shown in green. The proteins that are coded for by the mRNA's are shown in gray.
Most genes consist of regulatory and coding sequences .
Together all the chromosomes, collectively called the genome , carry the instructions for the construction, operation, renewal, maintenance, and growth of organisms.