In eukaryotes, transcription produces pre-mRNA; this is then spliced to form mRNA
In eukaryotic cells, copying a gene first produces a rough draft called pre-mRNA. The cell then cuts out non-coding sections and joins the useful parts together to make the final mRNA.
Real World
Alternative splicing of the human DSCAM gene can theoretically produce over 38,000 different proteins from a single gene — a process exploited in the nervous system to generate neuronal diversity, illustrating the power of exon rearrangement.
Exam Focus
Always use the correct terms: introns are removed, exons are retained and joined; confusing these two is one of the most common exam errors.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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