Final answer:
The modification of mRNA during transcription enables one gene to give rise to more than one protein through alternative splicing. This process rearranges exons, allowing cells to produce multiple proteins from a single gene.
Step-by-step explanation:
The modification of mRNA during transcription enables one gene to give rise to more than one protein through a process called alternative splicing. Alternative splicing is a post-transcriptional modification where different exons of the gene are included or excluded from the final mRNA molecule, resulting in different protein variants. By rearranging the exons, cells can produce multiple proteins from a single gene.
For example, the CFTR gene, which is associated with cystic fibrosis, undergoes alternative splicing to produce multiple protein isoforms with different functions. This allows the gene to have diverse roles in different tissues.
Overall, alternative splicing is an efficient way for cells to generate protein diversity and adapt to different cellular requirements.