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Multiple Choice
Alternative splicing allows which of the following?
A
A single gene to produce multiple protein variants.
B
The removal of introns from prokaryotic mRNA.
C
The conversion of mRNA into tRNA.
D
The addition of a 5' cap to mRNA.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of alternative splicing: Alternative splicing is a process during gene expression that allows a single gene to code for multiple proteins. In this process, certain exons of a gene may be included within or excluded from the final, processed messenger RNA (mRNA) produced from that gene.
Identify the role of introns and exons: In eukaryotic cells, genes are composed of exons (coding regions) and introns (non-coding regions). During RNA processing, introns are removed, and exons are spliced together to form the final mRNA.
Recognize the significance of alternative splicing: By varying the combination of exons included in the mRNA, alternative splicing can produce different protein variants from a single gene, increasing the diversity of proteins that a cell can produce.
Differentiate from other processes: Alternative splicing is distinct from other mRNA processing events such as the removal of introns from prokaryotic mRNA (which typically does not occur as prokaryotic genes lack introns), the conversion of mRNA into tRNA (which is a separate process), and the addition of a 5' cap to mRNA (which is a modification that occurs during mRNA processing but is not related to splicing).
Conclude with the correct understanding: The primary function of alternative splicing is to enable a single gene to produce multiple protein variants, thereby contributing to protein diversity in eukaryotic organisms.