 Molecular genetics gave rise to what has been called the “classical molecular gene” concept (Neumann-Held 1999, see  §§1.3–1.4).  The classical molecular gene was characterized both structurally and functionally in the following way: A gene exhibits a certain structure known as an “open reading frame” (ORF), that is, a sequence of codons between and including a start and a stop codon, which initiate and terminate translation respectively (i.e., they exhibit their function in the transcribed RNA, but can be identified in the corresponding DNA). Also, transcription and translation initiation and determination signals, such as transcription factor binding sites and other regulatory elements typically associated with protein-coding genes were often seen as part of the molecular gene (forming a “transcription unit”). The function of such a molecularly described gene was to give rise (via mRNA) to a polypeptide chain as the basis of a functional protein through the processes of transcription and translation. The gene fulfilled this function by acting as a template. Complications such as splicing or overlapping genes were initially not seen as compromising the structural-functional unity of the material gene. Non-coding, functional RNA could also be assimilated to the concept, if it was possible to identify a stretch of DNA based on linear correspondence between the product and its gene (Griffiths &amp; Stotz 2006).