JOINING EXONS Meaning and
Definition
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Joining exons refers to the process of connecting or merging distinct exons together during the maturation of a eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule. In eukaryotes, the genes typically contain exons, which are coding sequences, and introns, which are non-coding sequences interspersed between the exons. After transcription of the gene, the introns are removed from the pre-mRNA molecule through a process called splicing, resulting in a mature mRNA molecule that contains only the exons.
Joining exons is a crucial step in the production of functional mRNA molecules, as it enables the synthesis of a continuous, uninterrupted coding sequence. The process is facilitated by a complex molecular machinery known as the spliceosome, which recognizes specific DNA sequences at the boundaries between exons and introns. The spliceosome excises the introns and precisely joins the adjacent exons to generate a spliced mRNA molecule.
The joining of exons allows for the creation of various transcripts from a single gene, leading to alternative splicing. Alternative splicing is a crucial mechanism that enhances the diversity of gene expression by producing multiple mRNA variants from a single gene. These variants may differ in their exon composition, resulting in diverse protein isoforms with distinct functions or properties.
In summary, joining exons is the process of physically connecting distinct exons in a pre-mRNA molecule to generate a mature mRNA molecule. It is a critical step in mRNA maturation and alternative splicing, contributing to the increased complexity and diversity of gene expression in eukaryotes.
Common Misspellings for JOINING EXONS
- hoining exons
- noining exons
- moining exons
- koining exons
- ioining exons
- uoining exons
- jiining exons
- jkining exons
- jlining exons
- jpining exons
- j0ining exons
- j9ining exons
- jouning exons
- jojning exons
- jokning exons
- jooning exons
- jo9ning exons
- jo8ning exons
- joibing exons
- joiming exons
Etymology of JOINING EXONS
The word "joining exons" does not have a specific etymology of its own. However, to understand its meaning, it is essential to examine the etymology of the individual words it comprises.
1. Joining: The word "joining" is derived from the Old French word "joindre", which means "to join" or "to connect". It can be traced back to the Latin word "iungere", meaning "to join" or "to yoke".
2. Exons: The word "exons" is derived from the cellular component known as "exon". The term "exon" originated from the abbreviation of "ex-on", where "ex" stands for "expressed" and "on" refers to "the sequence". This abbreviation was coined in the mid-1970s during research on the structure of genes.
