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Alternative splicing is a process by which different combinations of exons can be included in the final messenger RNA (mrna) sequence. This process provides an organism with increased flexibility to adapt to changing environmental conditions, as well as providing new proteins that are important for cell function and survival. In this blog post, we will explore some of the advantages that alternative splicing offers eukaryotic organisms.
-Alternative splicing can allow an organism to produce different versions of the same protein. For example, while one set of proteins may be needed for cell division, another might be required during times when food is scarce and more energy is necessary. This process also allows organisms to “focus” their proteins on certain functions that are unique in a given environment or at specific stages of development.
-Alternative mRNA processing creates a diverse proteome, which means that some cells will have specialized enzymes not found in other types of cells. The diversity created by alternative splicing provides options for adaptations as populations face changes such as drought or chemical spills where survival depends on having genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes–enzymes capable of breaking down complex molecules like carbohydrates or proteins.
-Alternative mRNA processing also allows organisms to “focus” their protein production on certain functions that are unique in a given environment or at specific stages of development. One study found, for example, that some cells produce erythrocytes (red blood cells) which allow them to survive better than other types of cells when exposed to particular antibiotics. Without alternative splicing, the organism would not be able to change its response depending on environmental conditions and would consequently die off more easily under pressure from such threats as antibiotic treatments and chemical spills.
This ability is especially important because many species have been shown to evolve much faster through rapid changes in gene expression rather than by mutations affecting DNA sequences: evolution becomes less dependent on chance events and more driven by the organism’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances. As expected, this evolution is slower than genetic mutations and can take place over a longer period of time but it does not depend on random events so that should help prevent any particular gene from becoming extinct. The alternative splicing process also allows species to avoid making an irreversible decision in one dimension (e.g., with regards to antibiotic resistance) at the cost of being less versatile overall; this seems like a reasonable trade-off for many organisms as they’ll be able to survive better under pressure without taking undue risks. Advantages: *provides flexibility when responding environmental changes such as chemical spills or antibiotics treatments*allows populations with different genetics within them, which
