Question: What mechanisms underlie non-coding DNA's regulatory roles in complex traits and diseases?

Michael Kimwele answered on 17 Jul 2025:

Non-coding DNA plays crucial regulatory roles in complex traits and diseases through several mechanisms, primarily by influencing gene expression without coding for proteins. Key elements such as enhancers, silencers, promoters, and insulators interact with transcription factors and chromatin remodelers to control when, where, and how genes are expressed. Non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, also modulate gene activity post-transcriptionally. Additionally, epigenetic modifications—like DNA methylation and histone modifications—often occur in non-coding regions, altering chromatin structure and accessibility. Variants in these regions can disrupt regulatory networks, leading to misexpression of genes and contributing to the development of complex diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders.