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Multiple Choice
Which description applies to alternative mRNA splicing?
A
It adds a poly-A tail to the 5' end of the pre-mRNA.
B
It allows a single gene to produce multiple different protein isoforms by varying the combination of exons included in the final mRNA.
C
It is the process by which ribosomes translate mRNA into protein.
D
It removes all exons from the pre-mRNA, leaving only introns in the mature mRNA.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of alternative mRNA splicing. Alternative mRNA splicing is a process that occurs during gene expression where the pre-mRNA transcript is modified to include different combinations of exons, resulting in multiple protein isoforms from a single gene.
Step 2: Clarify the role of exons and introns. Exons are coding regions of a gene that are retained in the final mRNA, while introns are non-coding regions that are removed during splicing.
Step 3: Recognize the significance of alternative splicing. By varying the inclusion or exclusion of specific exons, alternative splicing allows for the production of diverse proteins with different functions from the same gene, increasing the complexity of gene expression.
Step 4: Eliminate incorrect descriptions. For example, adding a poly-A tail to the 5' end of pre-mRNA is incorrect because the poly-A tail is added to the 3' end. Similarly, the removal of all exons or the process of translation by ribosomes does not describe alternative splicing.
Step 5: Identify the correct description. The correct description is: 'It allows a single gene to produce multiple different protein isoforms by varying the combination of exons included in the final mRNA.' This highlights the functional importance of alternative splicing in generating protein diversity.