IG1_05_Fig22

Alternative splicing leads to different forms of the same protein

    The intron / exon-equivalent structure of the human dystrophin gene includes 35 exon-equivalents, of which 8 (those in green) are included or excluded in various combinations to produce an mRNA that is translated to make a tissue-specific form of the protein. The huge number of possible combinations means that the protein can be fine-tuned for tissue-specific functions. This also provides a basis for the evolution of new gene functions


Figure © 2012 TA Brown, Introduction to Genetics (1st ed.); additional text © 2014 by Steven M. Carr