alternative splicing

Alternative splicing is a process by which a single gene can produce different proteins. After a gene is transcribed into RNA, the cell can choose which parts, called exons, to include or skip. This selective editing results in multiple variations of messenger RNA (mRNA), each coding for a different protein. This mechanism allows cells to generate diverse proteins from a limited number of genes, helping to increase biological complexity and adapt to different functions or conditions. In essence, alternative splicing is a way for the genome to efficiently diversify protein production.