SPLIT GENE Meaning and
Definition
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Split Gene:
A split gene refers to a gene that is made up of separate coding regions known as exons, interspersed with non-coding regions referred to as introns. The concept of split genes was initially proposed as a mechanism to explain the discrepancy between the complexity of an organism's proteome and the relatively small proportion of genome that codes for proteins. Split genes are found in eukaryotic organisms, including humans.
The exons of a split gene are the segments of the gene that contain the coding information for the synthesis of a specific protein. These exons are separated by introns, which do not have a coding function and are removed during the splicing process. The process of splicing involves the removal of introns and the joining together of exons to form a mature mRNA molecule that is then translated into a functional protein.
Split genes are of great significance as they enable the generation of multiple protein isoforms from a single gene. Alternative splicing is a process by which different combinations of exons can be included or excluded during splicing, resulting in the production of different versions of proteins from a single gene. This post-transcriptional regulation mechanism greatly enhances the diversity and complexity of the proteome produced by an organism, allowing for increased functional specialization and adaptability.
The discovery and study of split genes have revolutionized our understanding of gene structure and expression, providing insights into the complex nature of gene regulation, protein diversity, and the development of higher organisms.
Common Misspellings for SPLIT GENE
- aplit gene
- zplit gene
- xplit gene
- dplit gene
- eplit gene
- wplit gene
- solit gene
- sllit gene
- s-lit gene
- s0lit gene
- spkit gene
- sppit gene
- spoit gene
- splut gene
- spljt gene
- splkt gene
- splot gene
- spl9t gene
- spl8t gene
- splir gene
Etymology of SPLIT GENE
The term "split gene" is derived from the concept of gene splicing, which involves the removal of non-coding regions (introns) from the initial transcript of a gene, and the ligation of the remaining coding regions (exons) to form a functional messenger RNA (mRNA). This post-transcriptional modification process was discovered in the 1970s by Philip Sharp and Richard Roberts, resulting in a breakthrough in understanding the structure of genes. In a split gene, the exons are separated by introns, hence the description "split" gene. The term has since been widely used in genetics and molecular biology.
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