Regulated alternative splicing

Abstract

This chapter highlights alternative splicing, which increases the coding capacity of the genome by challenging the 'one gene-one protein' rule. It defines gene number paradox as the discrepancy between gene copy number and apparent complexity. It also explores how organisms use alternative splicing to expand the information content of their genomes by enabling multiple mRNAs and proteins to be made from each gene. The chapter talks about alternative exons that are variably included into mRNAs and occurs through alternative splicing. It clarifies that only a subset of exons is alternatively spliced, while other exons called constitutive exons are always included in mRNAs.