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Related Concept Videos

Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Alternative RNA Splicing02:18

Alternative RNA Splicing

Alternative RNA splicing is the regulated splicing of exons and introns to produce different mature mRNAs from a single pre-mRNA. Unlike in constitutive splicing where a single gene produces a single type of mRNA, alternative splicing allows an organism to produce multiple proteins from a single gene and plays an important role in protein diversity.
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
Alternative RNA Splicing02:18

Alternative RNA Splicing

Alternative RNA splicing is the regulated splicing of exons and introns to produce different mature mRNAs from a single pre-mRNA. Unlike in constitutive splicing where a single gene produces a single type of mRNA, alternative splicing allows an organism to produce multiple proteins from a single gene and plays an important role in protein diversity.
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
RNA Splicing01:32

RNA Splicing

Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Using the E1A Minigene Tool to Study mRNA Splicing Changes
10:25

Using the E1A Minigene Tool to Study mRNA Splicing Changes

Published on: April 22, 2021

Alternative splicing and evolution: diversification, exon definition and function.

Hadas Keren1, Galit Lev-Maor, Gil Ast

  • 1Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel. hadasker@post.tau.ac.il

Nature Reviews. Genetics
|April 9, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Alternative splicing (AS) enhances organism complexity, but its evolutionary origins and functional impacts remain key research questions. This review explores the evolution of AS and its role in shaping biodiversity across species.

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Identification of Alternative Splicing and Polyadenylation in RNA-seq Data
08:35

Identification of Alternative Splicing and Polyadenylation in RNA-seq Data

Published on: June 24, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Using the E1A Minigene Tool to Study mRNA Splicing Changes
10:25

Using the E1A Minigene Tool to Study mRNA Splicing Changes

Published on: April 22, 2021

Identification of Alternative Splicing and Polyadenylation in RNA-seq Data
08:35

Identification of Alternative Splicing and Polyadenylation in RNA-seq Data

Published on: June 24, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Alternative splicing (AS) significantly expands transcriptome and proteome diversity, especially in mammals.
  • While splicing is conserved across species, its prevalence and characteristics differ substantially.
  • Understanding the evolution of AS is crucial for deciphering its functional significance and regulatory mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of alternative splicing evolution.
  • To address fundamental questions regarding the origin and evolutionary forces shaping AS.
  • To explore the determinants of constitutive versus alternative exon splicing.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on alternative splicing and evolutionary studies.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on AS prevalence and characteristics across diverse species.
  • Analysis of evolutionary principles applied to splicing mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • AS is a widespread phenomenon contributing to biological complexity.
  • Significant variation exists in AS patterns and functions across different taxa.
  • Key questions regarding AS evolution, functionality, and regulation are still under investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Alternative splicing is a fundamental evolutionary mechanism driving biological diversity.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the evolutionary trajectory and functional consequences of AS.
  • Comparative evolutionary studies are essential for understanding the intricacies of splicing regulation.