Lesson plan
Isoform
.|420x420px In genetics, an isoform is a member of a set of similar products that originate from the same gene; such a set can consist of mRNAs or their resultant proteins. The best-studied isoforms are the protein isoforms, or "protein variants", resulting from differences in the coding DNA sequences (CDS) of their precursor mRNAs. While many perform the same or similar biological roles, some protein isoforms have unique functions. A set of protein isoforms may be formed from alternative splicings, variable promoter/transcription start site (TSS) usage, or other post-transcriptional modifications of a single gene; post-translational modifications are generally not considered. (For that, see Proteoforms.) Through RNA splicing mechanisms, mRNA has the ability to select different protein-coding segments (exons) of a gene, or even different parts of exons from RNA to form different mRNA sequences. Each unique sequence produces a specific form of a protein. The discovery of isoforms could explain the discrepancy between the small number of protein coding regions of genes revealed by the Human Genome Project and the large diversity of proteins seen in an organism: different proteins encoded by the same gene could increase the diversity of the proteome.…
Article summary
.|420x420px In genetics, an isoform is a member of a set of similar products that originate from the same gene; such a set can consist of mRNAs or their resultant proteins. The best-studied isoforms are the protein isoforms, or "protein variants", resulting from differences in the coding DNA sequences (CDS) of their precursor mRNAs. While many perform the same or similar biological roles, some protein isoforms have unique functions. A set of protein isoforms may be formed from alternative splicings, variable promoter/transcription start site (TSS) usage, or other post-transcriptional modifications of a single gene; post-translational modifications are generally not considered. (For that, see Proteoforms.) Through RNA splicing mechanisms, mRNA has the ability to select different protein-coding segments (exons) of a gene, or even different parts of exons from RNA to form different mRNA sequences. Each unique sequence produces a specific form of a protein. The discovery of isoforms could explain the discrepancy between the small number of protein coding regions of genes revealed by the Human Genome Project and the large diversity of proteins seen in an organism: different proteins encoded by the same gene could increase the diversity of the proteome.…
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.