Question

If a cell's spliceosomes were mutated so they no longer functioned normally, what consequences would result?

a. Exons would be missing in the mature mRNA.
b. Transcription would cease.
c. A functional protein would still be produced.
d. Introns would remain in the mature mRNA.
e. RNA modification would remain intact.

Answer 1

Mutations in spliceosomes can lead to introns remaining in mature mRNA, exons being missing, and still produce a functional protein.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mutations in spliceosomes, the cellular machinery responsible for removing introns from mRNA, can disrupt normal splicing and lead to several consequences.

d. Introns would remain in the mature mRNA. When spliceosomes fail to function normally, introns are not properly removed from the pre-mRNA molecule, resulting in the introns being present in the mature mRNA.

a. Exons would be missing in the mature mRNA. Alternatively, mutations in spliceosome recognition sequences or the proteins and RNAs that make up spliceosomes can lead to the skipping or deletion of exons, resulting in the mature mRNA lacking certain exons.

c. A functional protein would still be produced. Despite the presence of introns in the mature mRNA, the remaining exons can still be translated to produce a functional protein.

This dysfunction in splicing can have significant effects on gene expression and protein production, potentially leading to genetic diseases and disruptions in normal cellular function.