Question

What happens if an intron is not spliced?

Answer 1

Introns:

1. A segment of DNA or RNA that does not code for proteins is known as an intron.
2. Introns interrupt the sequence of genes.
3. Introns act as hot spots for recombination.

RNA splicing:

1. It is the process by which the newly synthesized pre-mRNA, also called as hnRNA, (heterogeneous nuclear RNA) is processed and forms mature mRNA.
2. hnRNA is processed inside the nucleus and then converted to mRNA, which then comes to the cytoplasm and undergoes either translation or protein synthesis.
3. In the RNA splicing process, the non-coding intervening regions known as ‘introns’ are removed and the coding regions called as ‘exons’ are joined together.
4. If an intron is not removed during the splicing in mRNA, it will lead to the formation of non-functional or altered protein as a result of translation.