Final answer:
The insertion of a transposable element into an intron of the OCA2 gene in corn snakes can disrupt mRNA splicing, resulting in an aberrant protein and, consequently, amelanism characterized by red and yellow pigmentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a transposable element inserts into an intron of the OCA2 gene, which is associated with oculocutaneous albinism, it can lead to a nonfunctional protein in several ways. The insertion can disrupt the normal splicing of the mRNA, as introns are typically non-coding sequences that are removed during RNA processing.
If the splicing machinery does not accurately remove the intron due to the presence of extra genetic material, the resulting mRNA might include intronic sequences or have an altered reading frame, which can lead to the production of an aberrant protein or the translation process being prematurely terminated.
Conversely, if the insertion does not affect the mRNA splicing but occurs within a regulatory element within the intron, it can affect gene expression levels. In the case of amelanistic corn snakes, the disruption caused by the insertion results in a loss of melanin pigmentation, yielding the distinctive red and yellow coloration.