Final answer:
Fragmented genes appear as cloned fragments which are used in genetic studies, seen in organisms that reproduce through fragmentation, such as starfish and fungi. Genomic studies analyze these genes to understand biological processes and genetic engineering techniques utilize splicing to manage these gene fragments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fragmented genes are found in the form of cloned fragments within the genomes of organisms, which can be used for various genetic studies and applications. In biology, fragmentation is a type of asexual reproduction where an organism is split into fragments, each of which can develop into a new organism. This method of reproduction is observed in organisms such as starfish and fungi.
For example, a starfish is capable of regenerating a whole new individual from just a single ray or arm if it is big enough. This process is also evident in certain plants like Bryophyllum and in bulb-bearing ferns, as well as mosses and liverworts that produce 'splash cups' which can help in the dispersal and growth of new individuals from dislodged cells called gemmae.
Fragmented genes are also a subject of study in genomics, which is the examination of the entirety of an organism's genes, their sequences, organization, and their interactions within and among species. The study of fragmented genes can help in understanding the biological processes of different species, especially when using model organisms that share similarities with humans and other species.
The concept of fragmented genes is also touched upon in genetic engineering, where splicing refers to the process of removing introns from precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) transcripts, which is a form of RNA processing allowing for a single gene to code for multiple proteins in higher organisms.