Technically, miRNA's are encoded by intergenic regions (IGR), formelly called junk DNA. There are some studies showing models of exonic miRNA's. I'm attaching one of these studies plus another with general description of miRNA biogenesis and function.
Technically, miRNA's are encoded by intergenic regions (IGR), formelly called junk DNA. There are some studies showing models of exonic miRNA's. I'm attaching one of these studies plus another with general description of miRNA biogenesis and function.
Genome Res. 2004 Oct;14(10A):1902-10. Epub 2004 Sep 13. Identification of mammalian microRNA host genes and transcription units. Rodriguez A1, Griffiths-Jones S, Ashurst JL, Bradley A.
"These findings strongly suggest that miRNAs are transcribed in parallel with their host transcripts, and that the two different transcription classes of miRNAs ('exonic' and 'intronic') identified here may require slightly different mechanisms of biogenesis."
Drosha Promotes Splicing of a Pre-microRNA-like Alternative Exon. by
Mallory A. Havens, Ashley A. Reich, Michelle L. Hastings at