I can only connect them to coding proteins but I have recently heard that some genes don’t
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Let’s make a distinction between genes, and sections of DNA. Genes usually refer to a specific section of DNA that codes for a specific protein. So, by definition, sections of DNA that do not code for proteins are not considered genes, so there aren’t genes that don’t code for proteins. There is, however, a lot of DNA that doesn’t code for proteins. Some of this DNA plays a regulatory role, either directly or indirectly. Some sections function as promoters, some as regulators, some we simply don’t know what it does.
DNA storage is highly organized, with many different layers of structures and organization. One of the methods employed are histones, disc like proteins the the DNA strand wraps around to condense the size of the DNA. The sequences that wrap around the histones are not able to be transcriptionaly active because they cannot be access by the transcription hardware. There are enzymes that can “roll” the histones forwards and backwards, changing what sequences of DNA are accessible and which sections are wrapped around the histones. The thing is, these enzymes are powered by ATP and therefore this is an energy intensive process. It is easier to have sequences of nonsense dna serving this regulatory function instead of genes that are highly transcriptionaly active.
Another source of silent DNA sequences in your genome is from viruses. Embedded within our genetic code our DNA sequences that originated in viruses, that our cells used to recognize invading viral pathogens and defend against them. You can think of it kind of like keeping a lion’s head trophy on the wall, which instructs future soldiers what lions look like and to be on the lookout for them.
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