Final answer:
a) MALAT1 is an example of a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) discussed in class, with a distinct role in gene expression regulation, differing from the function of XIST.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) discussed in class outside of XIST, one example is a) MALAT1.
Unlike XIST, which is involved in the inactivation of one of the X chromosomes in human females leading to the formation of Barr bodies, MALAT1 (Metastasis Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1) plays a different role.
Specifically, it is associated with gene expression regulation and has been implicated in various biological processes including alternative splicing and cellular signaling pathways.
LncRNAs like MALAT1 and XIST do not code for proteins but rather serve important regulatory functions within the cell, influencing gene expression and chromatin structure.