Exon shuffling
Exon Shuffling
Exon shuffling (/ˈɛksɒn ˈʃʌflɪŋ/) is a molecular mechanism that contributes to the evolution of proteins. It is a process by which exons, the protein-coding regions of genes, are rearranged in different combinations during DNA recombination to generate new genes.
Etymology
The term "exon shuffling" is derived from the words "exon", which refers to a segment of a DNA or RNA molecule containing information coding for a protein or peptide sequence, and "shuffling", which implies the rearrangement or reordering of these segments.
Process
Exon shuffling occurs during the process of DNA recombination, where the DNA molecule breaks and rejoins at different points, leading to a rearrangement of the exons. This can result in new combinations of exons, and therefore new proteins. The process is facilitated by the presence of introns, non-coding regions of DNA that separate the exons.
Significance
Exon shuffling plays a significant role in the evolution of proteins. By generating new combinations of exons, it allows for the creation of new genes and proteins with novel functions. This contributes to the diversity and complexity of life.
Related Terms
- DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information in all living organisms.
- RNA: Ribonucleic acid, a molecule similar to DNA that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis and other chemical activities of the cell.
- Intron: A segment of a DNA or RNA molecule that does not code for proteins and interrupts the sequence of genes.
- DNA recombination: The process by which DNA molecules exchange genetic information, leading to genetic diversity.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Exon shuffling
- Wikipedia's article - Exon shuffling
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski