The mRNA for an Alzheimer-related gene is 2400 nucleotides long when isolated from neurons, but 2900 nucleotides long when isolated from glial cells. Genomic DNA isolated from the two cell types show the identical nucleotide sequence. What mechanisms best accounts for the difference in the sizes of the mRNAs

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Biology

Philip Irwin

5 February, 06:52

The mRNA for an Alzheimer-related gene is 2400 nucleotides long when isolated from neurons, but 2900 nucleotides long when isolated from glial cells. Genomic DNA isolated from the two cell types show the identical nucleotide sequence. What mechanisms best accounts for the difference in the sizes of the mRNAs

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Walker Meyer · Answer 1

The mRNA for an Alzheimer-related gene is 2400 nucleotides long when isolated from neurons, but 2900 nucleotides long when isolated from glial cells. Genomic DNA isolated from the two cell types show the identical nucleotide sequence. the mechanisms that best accounts for the difference in the sizes of the mRNAs is the alternative slicing mechanism.

Explanation:

A controlled process during gene expression that results in a single gene coding for multiple proteins is referred to as alternative splicing.

During this process, particular exons of a gene may be included within or excluded from the final, processed messenger RNA (mRNA) produced from that gene.

Thus, the mechanisms that best accounts for the difference in the sizes of the mRNAs is the alternative slicing mechanism.