Final answer:
RNA splicing, which is the removal of non-coding introns from the RNA transcript and ligation of coding exons, is an example of post-transcriptional regulation in gene expression. This forms a mature mRNA molecule that is ready to be translated into protein, with alternative splicing contributing to protein diversity. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of post-transcriptional regulation in gene expression refers to the modifications that occur to messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules after they have been transcribed from DNA but before they are translated into proteins.
Within this process, RNA splicing involves the removal of non-coding introns from the RNA transcript and ligation of the coding exons. This modification is essential for the formation of a mature mRNA molecule that can be translated into a functional protein.
Splicing is also subject to regulation, which can result in different protein products from the same gene sequence, contributing to the diversity of proteins a single gene can produce.
Other forms of post-transcriptional control may include regulation of RNA stability by microRNAs and alternative splicing that generates multiple mRNA variants from a single gene transcript, influencing the range of proteins expressed. The correct option is a.