2 syllables: in, tron. Stress on in.
IN-truhn
/ˈɪntɹən/
intron is pronounced IN-truhn (/ˈɪntɹən/). It has two syllables (in-tron), with the stress on "in". An intron is a noncoding segment of a eukaryotic gene that interrupts the coding sequence (exons) and is removed during RNA splicing. Intron segments are transcribed into RNA but are not translated into protein; they often regulate gene expression and can influence mRNA stability and alternative splicing. The term contrasts with exons, which are retained in mature mRNA and translated into protein.
An intron is a noncoding segment of a eukaryotic gene that interrupts the coding sequence (exons) and is removed during RNA splicing. Intron segments are transcribed into RNA but are not translated into protein; they often regulate gene expression and can influence mRNA stability and alternative splicing. The term contrasts with exons, which are retained in mature mRNA and translated into protein.
- Misplacing stress: you’ll typically want primary stress on the first syllable in many contexts or on the second syllable in careful scientific articulation. If you say in-TRON too quickly, the word loses its crisp boundary. - Vowel quality: the first syllable often carries a short /ɪ/; avoid turning it into a long /i/ or a lax schwa. - Slurring the t and r: avoid blending into an /tr/ cluster that sounds like a single sound; release the /t/ and then gently roll or approximate the /r/ if your dialect allows. - Final vowel quality: some speakers reduce the final /ɒ/ to an /ɔ/ or even /ə/ in casual speech; maintain the shorter open vowel for clarity.
"Researchers studied how introns influence alternative splicing in the transcript."
"The intron is excised by the spliceosome before the RNA exits the nucleus."
"Mutations at intron boundaries can disrupt proper splicing and cause disease."
You say IN-tron (IPA: US ˈɪn.trɒn, UK ɪnˈtrɒn, AU ˈɪn.trɒn). Start with a short, crisp 'in' as in 'kit' and land softly on the stressed second syllable '-tron', with a rounded back vowel in the second syllable. The t is a light, unaspirated stop; ensure clear separation between syllables for technical accuracy.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying in-TRON with strong initial stress; 2) Flattening the vowel to a lax schwa in the first syllable (ˈɪn-trɔn vs ˈɪn-trɒn); 3) Slurring the t into the r, producing in-trɔn. Correction: clearly release the t between syllables and keep the second syllable 'tron' with a clear short o (ɒ) in British contexts; practice by isolating the two syllables: ˈɪn - trɒn, then blend at natural speed.
In US English, initial syllable bears primary stress lightly with a short i: ˈɪn.trɒn or ˈɪn.trɔn; in UK English, you’ll hear ɪnˈtrɒn with stronger second-syllable stress in some formal readings; Australian tends toward ˈɪn.trɒn with a broad vowel in the first syllable and clear second syllable, similar to UK but with Australian vowel features. Across all, the r is non-rhotic in many UK and AU pronunciations, affecting the quality before the final -n.
Two main challenges: the i vowel in the first syllable can shift toward a lax vowel in fast speech, and the t-to-r sequence can blend in rapid academic speech. The final -on can be pronounced with a rounded back vowel (ɒ) or a more open ɔ in some dialects. To combat this, practice the two syllables separately, then rehearse with a neutral tempo until you maintain a crisp /t/ release and a distinct /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ vowel before n.
A unique point is keeping a clean boundary between the t and r sounds in 'tron' during rapid speech, so you avoid turning it into a single blurred syllable. Also note minimal confusion with 'iron' in some dialects; intron has a clear first syllable boundary and a stressed second syllable, which helps distinguish it in scientific talk. IPA cues: US ˈɪn.trɒn, UK ɪnˈtrɒn, AU ˈɪn.trɒn.
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- US: focus on a clear, slightly reduced first vowel /ɪ/ and a crisp /trɒn/ with a notable /t/ release before the /r/ or the /ɒ/ vowel. - UK: maintain non-rhotic patterns; the /r/ is not pronounced unless it’s followed by a vowel; the /ɒ/ in tron should be more rounded with less lip rounding. - AU: similar to UK but often with broader vowel qualities; keep a bright /ɒ/ and a strong syllable boundary. IPA checks: US ˈɪn.trɒn, UK ɪnˈtrɒn, AU ˈɪn.trɒn. - Tips: position your tongue for /t/ at the alveolar ridge, tip lightly touches, then release with a small burst; keep the /ɒ/ centralized and avoid over-rounding the lips.
The word intron comes from Latin intron, from inter- ‘between’ + -tron, a suffix used in science fiction and biology, echoing the word exon. Its usage in genetics solidified in the 1970s as molecular biology revealed that genes in eukaryotes are not a continuous coding stretch. The concept of intervening sequences between exons was clarified with the discovery of split genes and RNA splicing. The term intron was chosen to denote the segments removed during processing, i.e., internal sections within a gene that are not retained in mature mRNA. First known use in print appears in the late 1970s as researchers described intron-containing genes and the splicing mechanism. Over time, introns have been found to regulate gene expression, influence alternative splicing, and host regulatory elements, highlighting their functional importance beyond mere noncoding status. The etymology reflects its position within a gene: between exons, internal, and noncoding in the final transcript. Modern usages emphasize introns in RNA processing, evolutionary studies of intron gain and loss, and the role of introns in complex gene regulation across eukaryotes.
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