The fourth video released of the “RNA Explained Series”, is on splicing, including alternative splicind, and the Nobel Prize awarded for its discovery.
Did you know that our genes come in bits and pieces? For a long time, scientists imagined genes as continuous stretches of DNA. They were puzzled to discover that many genes contain extra segments that are not found in the final instructions for building proteins.
To solve this, cells use a clever molecular trick called "RNA splicing", a cut and paste process of life. A massive molecular machine called the spliceosome joins the segments for the protein building intstructions and removes the extra segments.
But splicing isn’t just about cleaning up the code. Through a process called "alternative splicing," cells can combine genetic information in different ways. This flexibility is what drove the evolution of complex life, but it is also a delicate process. Disturbances of this process can lead to severe diseases. Today, scientists are developing groundbreaking therapies that target splicing to restore functional mRNAs and treat these conditions.